Saint-sylvestre, Haute-Vienne: discover Limousin's essence

The path of the monks of Grandmont is a magnificent hiking trail in the heart of the mountains of Ambazac! You will discover during this walk the history of the monks of Grandmont whose order was the most widespread in Europe at the end of the 13th century.

This circuit allows you to appreciate Ambazac in all its forms. You will be able to admire the village of Bourdelas, the mills, the small built heritage, the forest, the panoramas, the pond of Jonas, the monks' barn.

Hiking through the Haute-Vienne in the magnificent massif of the Monts d'Ambazac, the first western foothills of the Massif Central, which culminate at 701 m altitude. You will walk through the Limousin mountains and its historical heritage. This hike will offer you many panoramas on the Monts d'Ambazac, and will take you through forests of deciduous trees, conifers and beech trees. Dive into the history of the 12th century, with the chapel of the monastic order of Grandmont (variant), and discover the many villages with traditional architecture.

Hiking through the Haute-Vienne in the magnificent massif of the Monts d'Ambazac, the first western foothills of the Massif Central, which culminate at 701 m altitude. You will walk through the Limousin mountains and its historical heritage. This hike will offer you many panoramas on the Monts d'Ambazac, and will take you through forests of deciduous trees, conifers and beech trees. Dive into the history of the 12th century, with the chapel of the monastic order of Grandmont (variant), and discover the many villages with traditional architecture.

Hiking through the Haute-Vienne in the magnificent massif of the Monts d'Ambazac, the first western foothills of the Massif Central, which culminate at 701 m altitude. You will walk through the Limousin mountains and its historical heritage. This hike will offer you many panoramas on the Monts d'Ambazac, and will take you through forests of deciduous trees, conifers and beech trees. Dive into the history of the 12th century, with the chapel of the monastic order of Grandmont (variant), and discover the many villages with traditional architecture.

Stage 4: Ambazac - Bonnac-la-Côte (21 km). This stage takes you through the beautiful scenery of the Monts d'Ambazac, with a view of Mont Gerbassou, 559 m high. At the end of the stage, make a detour to the listed village of Salesse to discover its traditional rural architecture.

This 5 km walk will make you discover the village of Razès and the surrounding nature. You can enjoy the panorama of the Monts d'Ambazac and the sunken paths. A variant of 3 km allows families to easily discover the town.

This trail will make you discover the natural heritage of Razès, with its wetlands and pastures, its fauna and its preserved flora. Do not miss the Natura 2000 site dedicated to the Great Murin (bat) to learn more about this unusual species. Also worth seeing are the villages and the Old Razès district with the Berry house listed as a Historic Monument.

These two paths will take you from the village of Razès, where you can see a beautiful 12th century church, to the lake of Saint-Pardoux. On the way, you will walk through beautiful sunken paths and discover small villages. The Lake of Saint-Pardoux offers many sports and water activities. The two connections allow you to join the Tour du Lac, a 24 km trail with varied landscapes.

The village of Razès offers itself to hikers with this circuit of Silord. This is an easy, short walk, 20 minutes from Limoges, with a slight difference in altitude. You will discover paths lined with low dry stone walls, sunken paths, the Maison Berry (a listed building), Razès and its 12th century church, the village of Silord and its rural architectural heritage, wooded areas and streams. You are very close to the lake of Saint-Pardoux and its activities (swimming, sailing, tree climbing, mountain biking, indoor swimming pool, water skiing...).

In the heart of the Limousin mountains, this 18th-century house is located in the center of town, next to a 13th-century church, and opens onto a 2000 m2 walled garden with heated, secure swimming pool (electric shutter and access gate).

Séverine and Vincent have completely renovated the former house of the carpenter of Fanay located behind their house. They have tastefully fitted it out to welcome you in a cosy and warm gîte. It is independent and opens onto a courtyard and enclosed grounds.

This is undoubtedly the most unusual stopover on the A20 between Orleans and Toulouse. Just a few minutes from exit 26, this Robinson house is located near the hamlet of Vieux Huraud, in the heart of the Monts d'Ambazac. Vincent built these beautiful cabins himself, equipping them with very rustic features that are as close to nature as possible: hanging dry toilets, a kitchen for preparing small meals with everything you need for cooking and washing up (a fridge and plug are available 200m from the cabin), a wood-burning stove for chilly nights and a private toilet. Between the two cabins, the terrace is an ideal observatory for watching a family of wild boar pass by in the moonlight.

Le Ruisseau, a wooden chalet nestled at the foot of the Monts d'Ambazac in the commune of St Sylvestre, is fully equipped for your utmost comfort, and offers a breathtaking view over a relaxing environment. The ideal bucolic setting if you want to get away from it all and enjoy nature to the full in the Monts du Limousin! Cécile and Sébastien will give you a personal welcome and advise you on the many hiking trails, mountain bike circuits, trails and visits you can make during your stay in the Monts du Limousin. Let yourself be tempted by a sensory experience and enjoy a hot outdoor bath (bain nordique) for an additional 60?

"Le Châtaignier, Le Village et Le Ruisseau" 3 wooden chalets nestled at the foot of the Monts d'Ambazac in the commune of St Sylvestre, fully equipped for your utmost comfort, offer you a breathtaking view of a relaxing environment. The ideal bucolic setting if you want to get away from it all and enjoy nature to the full in the Monts du Limousin! Cécile and Sébastien will give you a personal welcome and advise you on the many hiking trails, mountain bike circuits, trails and visits you can make during your stay in the Monts du Limousin. New for 2023, let yourself be tempted by a sensory experience that's out of this world, out of time. Enjoy an outdoor hot tub by booking the "Le Ruisseau" chalet, which has a Nordic bath for an additional 60?

Le Châtaignier, a wooden chalet nestled at the foot of the Monts d'Ambazac in the commune of St Sylvestre, is fully equipped for your comfort, and offers a breathtaking view over a relaxing environment. The ideal bucolic setting if you want to get away from it all and enjoy nature to the full in the Monts du Limousin! Cécile and Sébastien will give you a personal welcome and advise you on the many hiking trails, mountain bike circuits, trails and visits you can make during your stay in the Monts du Limousin.

Family home on 2 levels with veranda, located in a small hamlet in the Monts du Limousin. Close to hiking and mountain biking trails, fishing lakes and rivers. Heated swimming pool from May 15 to September 15. Nearby shops

Beyond the owners' house, the small granite house, totally independent, opens on a lawn with a view on the forest. Ambazac is 2 km away.

Away from the hamlet, this original gîte, perched on the edge of the forest with a breathtaking view of the Monts d'Ambazac, is fitted out like a loft on 3 levels. A placid donkey and a few sheep in their pen are the only immediate neighbours: the perfect place to take a cure for walks in the middle of nature, free from connected objects.

Extremely comfortable gîte set in a large farmhouse in a typical Monts d'Ambazac hamlet. Large windows open onto a terrace and a separate enclosed garden of 1200 m², with a heated, secure swimming pool open from April 27 to October 11 (weather permitting). Plenty of entertainment is available on site and in the surrounding area, notably around Lac de St Pardoux (5 km) and the Monts d'Ambazac, where Chabanne is located. There are many attractive hiking trails. Optional leisure activities include horseback riding, cycling and mountain biking, tennis, squash, fishing, cooking classes, golf...

A picnic table is set up in front of the town hall in a small green space. A visit to this mountain village is highly recommended! Here and there, you'll find beautiful typical houses and an incomparable religious heritage!

The listed church dates back to the 13th century and was enlarged in the 15th century. The original nave comprises 2 bays with 13th-century pointed arches. It was extended in the 15th c. by a 3rd bay to the east, and 3 chapels to the north and 2 to the south. It was completed in the 17th c. with the addition of a square bell tower lit by 5 windows and a sacristy. The north buttress contains a circular staircase leading to the attic. Inside, the church features a 15th-century reliquary bust of Saint-Etienne de Muret, founder of the Grandmont Order, given in 1496 by Cardinal Briçonnet to Grandmont Abbey, of which he was the 11th abbot, and a gilded silver phylactery of Saint-Amand and Saint-Junien given to the abbey in the 13th century.

Located on the village square, it is dedicated to the patron saint of hermits. It was built from the stones of the former abbey and inaugurated in 1825 by Dom Vergniaud, the last Grandmont monk. The Order of Grandmont is a Limousin religious order founded around 1076 and dissolved in 1772. Every year, archaeological excavations are carried out on this historic site. Guided tours are organized in summer to share the results of the archaeologists' discoveries. Recently, the original wall (the south-east portion of the earthwork wall at the corner of rue de la porte de la voûte and route des Barrys) was rebuilt and inaugurated. Treasures from the former abbey are on display in a number of churches in the Monts du Limousin region. The Société des Amis de Saint-Sylvestre et de l'Abbaye de Grandmont hopes to continue promoting this exceptional site in the years to come.

Listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments, this is the only 12th-century vestige of Grandmont Abbey still standing. Its dimensions, 800 m2 and 65 m long, are imposing. Its 1st description dates from the 18th century: "a barn divided into 3 naves with a framework supported by 2 rows of 10 cut granite pillars capable of housing the harvest of the 4 Grandmont estates, the men and the livestock". It included a chapel. Today, it hosts concerts, exhibitions and conferences A project to restore the site is currently underway. The association will become the owner and, with the Atelier du Limousin and the Val de Seine School of Architecture, will welcome architecture students year-round on an innovative model preparing them for ecological change. Their 1st project (July 2023) was the construction of a shelter for meetings and information on current and future work.

Fed by two large streams flowing down from the hills, the Jonas lake spreads over 20 hectares at the edge of the village. This natural setting offers a breathtaking view of the Monts d'Ambazac. Its incomparable rural setting is ideal for hiking and fishing. An educational and awareness-raising trail (panels created in partnership with the LPO) tells the story of the pond and the richness of its fauna (fish and birds) and flora. A progressive sports trail equipped with 8 apparatus, designed and implemented by the municipal youth council, is also available to all. Other services include: a mountain bike base with access to 19 signposted circuits (sporting or family itineraries); grassy play areas; parking lot; dry toilets. The nearby 3-star Ecrin Nature campsite is the ideal place to enjoy all this.

Classified as a nature reserve, the site offers the chance to walk among ashy heather, mountain arnica, sphagnum moss (a type of plant sponge that retains up to 30 times its own weight in water), absorbent cotton (white cottony balls) and drosera, a small carnivorous plant. Walkers can also observe the Dolomède, a spider that hunts on the surface of the water. Two trails (2 and 5 km) allow you to explore the site. The departmental application "Les illusions des Dauges" (Explor Games© to download beforehand) provides a fun way to learn about the management, fauna and flora of the peat bog. The CEN Nouvelle-Aquitaine organizes exhibitions and free outings during the summer.

The Millier stone registered site is situated at an altitude of 516 m on the left bank of the Couze river. Paths lined with old beech trees and ancient low walls lead to the summit, which features the rocky chaos of the Millier stone. The latter is made up of a series of rounded granite blocks stacked up to 6 m high. This geological curiosity is the result of natural granite erosion.

Comfortably seated on one of the 6 picnic tables by the Jonas lake, take advantage of this beautiful natural site with its walks, interpretation trails...

Part of a group of buildings including the dwelling, the barn-stable, the bakery and the fruit store (beautiful 15th-century brackets). Built in 1716, restored in the 1950s and refurbished from the outside in the 1980s. At its base was a henhouse and pigsty. Listed as a Historic Monument.

Discover our cultural, natural and built heritage on this 185 km circuit. Sixteen panels in the Monts du Limousin highlight illustrious personalities (painters Valadon, Utrillo and Boitel, master glassmaker Chigot, photographer Izis), natural sites, lakes and rivers and our rich history. Enjoy the tranquility of forests, protected natural areas and dry-stone lined paths. Stroll along the Gartempe, Thaurion or singing brooks, or take a break at one of our lakes. So many places, so many pleasures to share! Historic monuments and a vernacular heritage that bears witness to a not-so-distant past are a reminder of talented builders.

Hamburgers, pizzas, pastas...are on the menu of this campsite restaurant, by reservation only (last service 9pm).

Located in the Mosaïque district, Pizzéria-Resto El Fredo offers pizzas, salads, pastas, meats and desserts for you to enjoy on site, indoors or on the summer terrace. The pizza dough is homemade, prepared and baked in front of you, and the care taken in preparing the products is a guarantee of quality to please your taste buds

Take a trip down memory lane with these takeaways: Bo Bun, Pho soup, sutéed noodles and so many other dishes featuring shrimp, prawns, squid...with the flavors of Vietnam.

Fast food to take away or eat in

Béatrice welcomes you to her old-fashioned bistro. It's the only shop in this little rural spot on the edge of the Dauges peat bog and close to a hiking trail of the "pierre branlante". In the back of the store, she has set up a small grocery selling very local products from producers within a few miles. She sometimes organizes small festive evenings, concerts and shows, in all simplicity. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. During school vacations and public holidays, same opening hours from Wednesday to Sunday.

You'll find our gourmet sandwiches from the North at : Wednesday Razès on the square from 6.30 pm to 9 pm Thursday Ambazac place de la République from 6:30pm to 9pm Sunday Nantiat place du commerce from 6:30pm to 9pm

Farinello offers you its home-made pizzas, mainly composed of fresh products. To take away.

This Brasserie, located in the heart of the city center, offers family-style cuisine based on local produce, with weekday lunch menus at 13.90? and Saturday menus at 17.50? In summer, enjoy the terrace.

Closed Monday, open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m

In the heart of the Limousin mountains, this 18th-century house is located in the center of town, next to a 13th-century church, and opens onto a 2000 m2 walled garden with heated, secure swimming pool (electric shutter and access gate).

Gite Les Vignes can accommodate up to 5 people and opens onto a private patio.

The gîte is on two levels: first floor: a large family room with double bed and sofa bed, plus another double bedroom, with panoramic views over the village and surrounding Grandmont forests.

Séverine and Vincent have completely renovated the former house of the carpenter of Fanay located behind their house. They have tastefully fitted it out to welcome you in a cosy and warm gîte. It is independent and opens onto a courtyard and enclosed grounds.

This is undoubtedly the most unusual stopover on the A20 between Orleans and Toulouse. Just a few minutes from exit 26, this Robinson house is located near the hamlet of Vieux Huraud, in the heart of the Monts d'Ambazac. Vincent built these beautiful cabins himself, equipping them with very rustic features that are as close to nature as possible: hanging dry toilets, a kitchen for preparing small meals with everything you need for cooking and washing up (a fridge and plug are available 200m from the cabin), a wood-burning stove for chilly nights and a private toilet. Between the two cabins, the terrace is an ideal observatory for watching a family of wild boar pass by in the moonlight.

Le Ruisseau, a wooden chalet nestled at the foot of the Monts d'Ambazac in the commune of St Sylvestre, is fully equipped for your utmost comfort, and offers a breathtaking view over a relaxing environment. The ideal bucolic setting if you want to get away from it all and enjoy nature to the full in the Monts du Limousin! Cécile and Sébastien will give you a personal welcome and advise you on the many hiking trails, mountain bike circuits, trails and visits you can make during your stay in the Monts du Limousin. Let yourself be tempted by a sensory experience and enjoy a hot outdoor bath (bain nordique) for an additional 60?

"Le Châtaignier, Le Village et Le Ruisseau" 3 wooden chalets nestled at the foot of the Monts d'Ambazac in the commune of St Sylvestre, fully equipped for your utmost comfort, offer you a breathtaking view of a relaxing environment. The ideal bucolic setting if you want to get away from it all and enjoy nature to the full in the Monts du Limousin! Cécile and Sébastien will give you a personal welcome and advise you on the many hiking trails, mountain bike circuits, trails and visits you can make during your stay in the Monts du Limousin. New for 2023, let yourself be tempted by a sensory experience that's out of this world, out of time. Enjoy an outdoor hot tub by booking the "Le Ruisseau" chalet, which has a Nordic bath for an additional 60?

Le Châtaignier, a wooden chalet nestled at the foot of the Monts d'Ambazac in the commune of St Sylvestre, is fully equipped for your comfort, and offers a breathtaking view over a relaxing environment. The ideal bucolic setting if you want to get away from it all and enjoy nature to the full in the Monts du Limousin! Cécile and Sébastien will give you a personal welcome and advise you on the many hiking trails, mountain bike circuits, trails and visits you can make during your stay in the Monts du Limousin.

Family home on 2 levels with veranda, located in a small hamlet in the Monts du Limousin. Close to hiking and mountain biking trails, fishing lakes and rivers. Heated swimming pool from May 15 to September 15. Nearby shops

Beyond the owners' house, the small granite house, totally independent, opens on a lawn with a view on the forest. Ambazac is 2 km away.