Half an hour from the Repaire, the Bessède forest spreads 7,000 hectares of oak, beech and pine, laced with waymarked trails. A green lung in the heart of the Périgord pourpre, perfect for a day’s walking or cycling away from the tourist sites.
Several waymarked loops of 5 to 18 km start from Cadouin — a remarkable village in its own right, whose 12th-century Cistercian abbey deserves the visit alone. Its flamboyant Gothic cloister is one of the most beautiful in France.
Favourites in the forest:
- The Vivier loop (8 km, easy), with its ponds and open views over the valley
- The trail past Neolithic standing stones and burial mounds near Belvès
- The hunters’ walk in autumn, for the colours
What to bring: walking shoes, a water bottle, snacks. IGN maps are available from the tourist offices in Belvès and Cadouin.
Combine with:
- Lunch in Cadouin (family-run inns, local cooking, around €25)
- A visit to Belvès, another neighbouring “Most Beautiful Village of France” (12 minutes by car)
- The cliff dwellings beneath Belvès (guided tour)
