Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère: one village, several faces
Ranked among Most Beautiful Villages of France, Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère is peacefully located in a ring (loop) of the Vézère. Dominated by the Côte de Jor, it has the typical charm and authenticity of the medieval villages of Périgord Noir, with its blonde stones and warm, its coyel roofs, the maze of its couredoux (narrow streets) and the presence of the Vézère river.
Things to see and do in Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
The basis of APA canoes offers you descents of the Vézère, for a few hours or the day. THE Conquil Park offers you a journey through time: you will discover a troglodyte site, come across more than 25 species of dinosaurs, and have fun on its route Tree Climbing park, while enjoying numerous activities.
The most daring can also set off from the Côte de Jor for a paragliding flight.
For more than 17 years, the town of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère has seen more than 1000 mountain bikers arrive in October to participate in the Rando Silex. You can also practice mountain biking and hiking all year round, with 3 short hiking loops :
- Hauteclair loop
- Loop of the Tour de Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
- Rock Loop
And a loop especially for mountain bikers:
Also enjoy the banks of the river, for a fishing party, a picnic in the shade of the weeping soils.
Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère: Village of art and artists
One of the jewels of Saint-Léon is its Romanesque church (from the 12th century), classified as a Historic Monument and which hosts the concerts of the Black Périgord Festival.
But also many artists and craftsmen chose this village to settle there. We love natural things in Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère: working with wood, felt, mammoth ivory...
Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, capital of inland shipping
Located in the heart of the Vézère valley, this village was, during thegolden age of inland shipping in Dordogne, the main port. The proof is that before being called Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, the village was called Port Léon. Being the main port, Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère offered an important stopover for the freight of goods coming from the Massif Central, but also a privileged pier for those who wanted to reach the Gironde estuary. There was no barge in the Vézère valley, a non-navigable river for this type of boat. On the other hand, there were a number of smaller boats called “hurried”. Bridges in the Vézère valley only really appeared in the 19th century, during the decline of the inland waterway industry due to the advent of rail. Thus, if we wanted to go from one side of the Vézère river to the other, we had to resort to the ferryman, at the place where his house was then, opposite Roque Saint-Christophe.
The little extras of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
In Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, you can also visit with pleasure the La Salle manor recently opened. Not open to the public, the Château de Clérans dominates the village. And finally you can also discover a miracle by going to the chapel of the same name…
- The village has a pleasant motorhome service area
- Dhagpo Kagyu Ling : main European center for the preservation and dissemination of the Kaguypa Buddhist tradition
- Point of view from the Côte de Jor: panoramic point of view on the Cingle de la Vézère and the village of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
- Votive festival on the 2nd Sunday in August
- Flea market on the 2nd Sunday in July
