Excideuil

Set beside the Loue River and lying between the Isle Valley to the west and the Auvézère Valley to the east, Excideuil lay on the historic Route du Fer (or Iron Route) linking Saint Yrieix la Perche to Périgueux. Dismount to walk around the streets of this medieval citadel, at least 1,500 years old. With its fine historic centre marked by ochre-coloured buildings, Excideuil was awarded the designation of a Petite Cité de Caractère in 2019.

Excideuil’s medieval centre 

A succession of troubadours is closely associated with Excideuil, from Giraut de Bornelh to Bertrand de Born, the latter a knightly poet who clashed with Richard Cœur de Lion and featured as a tragic figure in Dante’s Inferno, part of the famed Italian’s great work, the Divine Comedy.

While the château’s soldiers bravely saw off two attacks by Richard the Lionheart, a fire in the 15th century ravaged the town centre. Luckily for us today, it was rebuilt in the beautiful style of the period.

Your journey back in time in Excideuil takes you back through a thousand years, with prestigious moments from its past linked to the three close neighbouring regions of Périgord, Limousin and Aquitaine.

So, secure your bike and get ready for your Excideuil adventure! You can opt to tour the place by yourself, making use of the free booklet available from the tourist office. Then follow the series of informative panels scattered around the place.

Located in a strategic site in the northeast of the Périgord Vert, the Château d’Excideuil, built for the viscounts of Limoges, guarded a route linking the historic regions of Périgord and Limousin. These viscounts even transferred their court to here for some time.

The original fort dates back to the 11th century, but the castle was altered in the 16th. It boasts the only square double-keep in the Périgord, linked by a curtain wall. Richard Cœur de Lion besieged it twice, unsuccessfully. The castle was the theatre of tragic events, but also of marvellous celebrations, for example when the celebrated troubadour, Giraut de Bornelh (referred to by Dante in his masterpiece, The Divine Comedy), performed here.

Credits : ©Naturellement Périgord

The cherry on the cake? The part of the castle owned by the municipality is accessible to visitors, for free, all year round. So, during opening times, wander around as you wish along the ramparts and through the courtyard, admiring the views over the Loue Valley and, from June to September, enjoying the exhibitions of paintings, photos and sculpture held in the castelet (little castle), organized by the association Excit'œil.

The weekly market 

Excideuil Market is a very colourful event, especially in summer, when the heart of town becomes pedestrian-only for the Thursday gathering. Foodie cyclists riding through that day will be thrilled. Wandering around the streets, meet local producers of seasonal fruit and veg, cheeses, poultry, flowers, and much more. In winter, award-winning truffle and foie gras markets take place, also on Thursday, under the covered market (halle). The traditional French market takes place every Thursday morning throughout the year. It’s easy to fill your panniers with fine produce here – the hardest thing will be not overdoing it! 

Les Roches Enchantées

Cyclists will need to change mode of transport, going by foot rather than by bike, to explore some of the local area. If you love country walks, you’ll be delighted to learn that Excideuil’s surroundings are a joy for hiking. Leaving from the village, there are circuits indicated going from 2km up to 15km in length (with some even longer), taking you through woods. After crossing the footbridge known as the Passerelle du Moulin de la Baysse, after 2km, you come to the splendid natural site of Les Roches Enchantées, a gem, with cave-pierced cliffs rising above a green, shaded setting that it’s quite magical to discover. 

Roches-Enchantées-randonnée ©Naturellement Périgord

Activities to enjoy as a family 

What’s fun with little ones is to try your hand at geocaching, as Excideuil is well set up for this activity. So, embark on a fun family treasure hunt thanks to Terra Aventura, exploring Excideuil, following in the footsteps of Zétoulu, going back to the medieval times of the great troubadours, or travelling poets. Plus, a few kilometres from Excideuil, another circuit leads you along a cycle route, to Saint-Raphaël, a little perched village, where your courage may be tested as you have to go through a former railway tunnel.

If you like playful adventures, there’s more! What about going panning for gold as a family? Thanks to your guide Philippe, the local gold prospector, learn about the marvels that the local rivers conceal… your feet firmly in the water! Acquiring skills, you should be able to identify some semi-precious stones too, which you can pocket. So, join in a real treasure hunt!

Following the cycle route, just before arriving at Cherveix-Cubas, make a very short detour to the Ferme de la Garenne. This typical périgourdin farm is located at the end of a winding track through forest. At the edge of the woods, a herd of deer will be there to greet you. The Personne family too, able to welcome visitors across the year, showing them around their farm, where, as well as deer, they raise ostriches, emus and other birds. They sell their farm produce too, including goose and duck specialities, such as confits and foie gras.