Greenway in the Pays Sarladais, Carlux, Temniac - Sarlat-la-Canéda

Start at the B&B "Perles des Montfort" - Route du Château de Montfort, 24200 Vitrac - Via the voie verte veloroute to Carlux - Temniac - Sarlat-la-Canéda

We cycle past the "Castle of Montfort" and the "Cingle de Montfort" with a stunning view of the Turnac peninsula in a meander of the Dordogne towards Carsac-Aillac: worth a visit is the beautiful, simple church. Built of yellow natural stone. The heavy Romanesque bell tower and the apse have a lauzed roof. The stained glass windows and the Stations of the Cross were made by the Russian artist Léon Zack, who fled to France during WWII. In this little village, we now take the "voie verte/véloroute" towards Cazoulès. Cycling along the Dordogne with the Château de Rouffillac in sight. Just 100m more and we stop at the former station of Carlux.

La Gare Robert-Doisneau: Photographer Robert Doisneau (1912-1994) celebrated his first paid vacation in the Périgord Noir in 1937. He remained attached to it for his whole life. In 2018, the former station of Carlux was converted into a gallery for his photos of the Dordogne. And of course, there is also a "Café de la Gare" here. In this hamlet, we leave the voie verte and ride to Carlux. This castle town, situated on a rock, still has some old houses and a small market hall. Only the entrance tower, a keep, and impressive ramparts of the castle have been preserved. We continue our route over 14 km of rural roads through the Périgord noir with goose farms and walnut orchards to Temniac.

Here a steep climb awaits us to the pilgrimage site "Chapelle Notre-Dame", from the top of this hill we have a beautiful view of Sarlat-la-Canéda. The 12th-century chapel has the characteristics of the Romanesque architectural style of Périgord, featuring a nave with a double dome vault and a pentagonal choir. In the crypt, a black Madonna is venerated. The dilapidated castle was, before it became the residence of the bishops of Sarlat, a commandery of the Templars. A few more kilometers and then we arrive in the heart of the Périgord noir. Here in Sarlat, masses of tourists find their way through the medieval streets, mansions, and protected monuments in the historic center.