Jumilhac is a village of some 1200 inhabitants in the northern part of the Dordogne. It is part of the Perigord-Limousin Regional Nature Park, a protected area with a rich heritage. Year-round visits can be made to the most beautiful spots: swamps,peat-moors, lakes, orchid fields and there is a varied and very interesting fauna, including otters, European turtles, white divers and various birds of prey.
The park is also a place where people meet and feel welcome.
The landscape is one of hills and valleys and is perfectly suited to walks, bike-rides, and horseback riding. Its distinguishing features are green pastures with Limousin cows alternated by woods, orchards, rivers and lakes. In the rivers and lakes one can fish for trout as well as pike, perch and other coarse species.
Activities:
The impressive 13th century castle of Jumilhac is part of the Richard the Lionheart Route together with other neighbouring castles (Nexon, Coussac-Bonneval and Chalus). This historic route, which is well-signposted, is best done by car.There is a host of activities available in the immediate vicinity of Jumilhac le Grand: hiking, canoeing, climbing, swimming, fishing etc.
Should you wish to use your car more, then there is even more on offer: Bigger cities close by are: Limoges (50 km) known for its small shops, museums, restaurants and beautiful city centre not to mention being the centre of the great Limoges porcelain industry!
Périgueux (50 km) capital of the Dordogne, a medieval city with winding shopping streets and terraces and wonderful pavement cafés. In summer months there are numerous brocantes (antique markets) on the banks of the Vezère river .
Other towns worth a visit are: Brive (which has a golf course), Thiviers (with a huge farmers' market), Brantome and St. Yriex. All year around there are fascinating markets and musical festivals.
Watersports: There are many places to swim in or around Jumilhac. There is even a new outdoor swimming pool in Jumilhac itself, with a skateboarding rink on the premises. One can swim in the Isle but, as with any river, care should be taken and children closely supervised. You can go out in inflatable dinghies or rent a canoe and do some exploring upstream. In the summer months the Jumilhac Gold Museum organises gold hunts .
Bigger lakes and more water activities can be found about 20 minutes drive away.
Climbing: Under the guidance of the local climbing-club you can climb 6 different routes on natural rock-faces.
Hiking: In Jumilhac itself there are many hikes, with a total length of 80 km, with many more just a bit farther away. The paths are well signposted and booklets are available. Some of the paths run beside the River Isle. The region is well-known for a number of long-distance hiking routes - perhaps the best known is the pilgrims' path to Santiago de Compostella,which passes close to Jumilhac.
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