Monts de Blond

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Monts de Blond – land of dolmens and granite boulders, perfect for hiking

Haut Limousin is a wonderful region for walking, mountain biking and horse riding along a host of different paths to discover places shrouded in mystery like the Pierre du Sacrifice (sacrificial stone), Abri de la Roche aux Fées (Fairies’ rock shelter) and Pierre Branlante (rocking stone). These dolmens and granite boulders from the Neolithic Age left their mark on popular imagination and were originally places of pagan and religious worship.
The Monts de Blond hills are a 10km long conservation area, ideal for walking with many protected species of wildlife. Nightjars and hen harriers can be seen among the bell heather and common heather. The wooded hillsides, springs and lakes offer a patchwork of scenery with over 100km of sign-posted trails, so there are walks to suit everyone.

Mortemart at the heart of the Monts de Blond hills

Mortemart, one of the « Loveliest Villages in France », is a charming village whose glorious past covers ten centuries of history. The village, whose buildings show unusual architectural unity, grew up around the 10th century castle owned by the Rochechouart de Mortemart family. A descendant of this great family hit the headlines in the reign of Louis XIV, as the beautiful Madame de Montespan was in fact Françoise de Rochechouart de Mortemart.
Two convents, Couvent des Carmes and 14th century Couvent des Augustins illustrate the religious past of the village and the 18th century covered market reminds us that Mortemart was also a prosperous trading place. Less than 5km away, the little Limousin village of Montrol Sénard recalls rural life at the beginning of the 20th century. Wander around and visit some of the buildings to see what everyday life was like in the country : « Chabatz d’Entrar » house with its barn-storeroom, farm bake house, wash house, local school, pig sty and henhouse, bread oven, wood store, granary with an exhibition about hemp and wool, clog maker’s workshop, cobbler’s workshop, Nostalgie café, etc.
In the barn, 2 exhibitions « Rural life » and « Killing the pig » enable visitors to experience the atmosphere of daily life in the country. A walk through the narrow streets reveals the life of the « croquants (peasants) » so well depicted in « Jacquou Le Croquant » a novel by Eugène Leroy. Youngsters are astonished by this environment which seems so far removed from their own, yet it was only just over 100 years ago. Definitely an educational experience !

What to see and do near Monts de Blond : Oradour-sur-Glane, Cieux, Etang de Murat..

15km south of Monts de Blond lie the ruins of Oradour Sur Glane, a village whose inhabitants were massacred on 10 June 1944. The village was ransacked, burned and within a few hours reduced to a pile of ruins. Conserved just as it was found after the Liberation, the site remains as a symbol of Nazi atrocities and of remembrance in honour of the 642 victims. The Centre de la Mémoire built between the burned out village and the new Oradour is not a museum in the normal sense of the word, it is a place for information and reflection, a place which provokes questions about the atrocities of war. Haut Limousin is also the site of Bellac, where a popular drama festival is held every year. While at Bellac, have a walk along the Chemin des Diligences which inspired La Fontaine to write « the Coach and the Fly ». Les Nuits Musicales de Cieux at the end of July, the Festival du Haut Limousin at the beginning of August and Zicanouic à Nouic at the end of August provide great entertainment.
Pick up your binoculars and go to the Etang de Murat at Lussac Les Eglises to observe many different birds such as teal, pochard and grebes. A hide has been built on the lake so you can watch the birds without disturbing them. A little secret : Myriam is a local, second generation gite owner who is always delighted to talk about the area and the best places to go.

Discover Haute-Vienne with Gites de France Haute-Vienne : Lac de Vassivière, Limoges porecelain and gastronomy, Jardin de l'Evêché de Limoges, Mont Gargan, Lac de Saint Pardoux.