TREMOLAT

The little village of Tremolat is on the Dordogne river, on a large sweeping bend of the river to the east of Bergerac. It is visited both for the pretty village and for the lovely views from the nearby belvedere.

Like so many villages in the Dordogne, it is the overall appearance of Trémolat that provides its charm, with the old stone buildings and the picturesque village centre.

Although the village itself is the main highlight here, there are a few small features to enjoy in Trémolat as you explore, with the most noteworthy being the two churches:

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1) The large Church of Saint Nicolas is in the centre of the village and dates from the 12th century. At that time, it had various associated monastic buildings, of which traces can still be seen in the area immediately to the right of the church.

This area once held the cloisters (they disappeared during the Hundred Years War) and you can still see three stone arches that were once part of the 'salle capitulaire'. Although not much remains, these provide a tantalising glimpse of what must have once been an important religious centre.

Inside the church, the principal attraction is the 14th century frescoes, one of which depicts the Last Supper.

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2) Just on the edge of Trémolat there is a second church, within the grounds of the cemetery. This church, also from the 12th century, is a fascinating contrast to the Church of Saint Nicolas. It is very small, and has a lovely roman style facade with ornate stonework around the doorway. The rear part of the church was rebuilt in the 15th century.

You can also see a traditional bread oven, and sit at a café in Trémolat and enjoy the peace. There are several restaurants around the village centre.

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Cingle de Trémolat

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Just outside the village, there are viewpoints where you can admire the scenery  Above all, the views from the Belvédère de Trémolat are magnificent. The view stretches about 180 degrees across an enormous bend in the Dordogne River, with hills to the outside of the river and flat, agricultural land inside the loop.

In the other direction from Trémolat, is the Cingle de Limeuil, another raised belvedere area above the a large meander in the Dordogne river.

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There is also a 'plan d'eau' (a place where you can take a dip in the water to cool down) at Trémolat.

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Note for cyclists: there are many cycle routes in the region, but the one that follows along the river and includes the Cingle de Trémolat and the Cingle de Limeuil are the favourites, and on quiet roads for most of the year.  A bitit hilly though!

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There are numerous attractive villages nearby including Limeuil, one of the 'most beautiful villages of France', and many scenic highlights such as those along the Vézère valley to the east of Trémolat.

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For somewhere slightly less visited than these better known sites, we suggest you take a trip south of the river to visit the quiet villages such as Cadouin and Molières.

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