Blog : Tourism news from our region

Living in a (former) watermill means enjoying an extremely pleasant environment where the simple fact of having a stream running through the property adds a whole new dimension to the place and an undeniable charm. The water is omnipresent, weak in summer when the water level is very low with numerous aquatic plants covering it, lively in winter when the water level is high and its colour varies according to the rainfall. What can we say about the water that flows continuously from the small spring near the old watercress farm, and which, except in summer, gurgles as it flows into the reach? What can we say about the wildlife that lives peacefully in the river, such as the river wagtails, moorhens, damselflies, dragonflies, lizards, toads, ducks and sometimes even coypu? A veritable ecosystem is teeming, enjoying the benefits of this waterway. Not to mention all the many fish that form undulating circles on the surface of the water. It's a veritable festival of life all year round.

Recently, on a beautiful sunny day when we weren't having guests (it happens sometimes), we went to discover one of the many archaeological sites close to Le Moulin: the Archéosite des Fieux.

The Archéosite des Fieux is first and foremost an open-air cave located in the north of the Causses du Quercy, near Gramat. This site was an important hunting ground and then a temporary habitat, from Neanderthal man to modern man (known as Cro-Magnon). The traces and remains are spread over different excavation sites, each telling the story of a different area of human occupation. The decorated cave, with its engravings and paintings, was classified as a Historic Monument on 17 January 1967, and is contemporary with other examples of cave art in the Quercy region, such as Pech Merle and Cougnac, with perhaps an earlier phase that is exceptional for the region.

Did you know that 300 metres from the Moulin du Boisset, just across the road, on a cliff covered in dense vegetation these days, is the site of Uxellodunum, where so much of our history took place? Uxellodunum! What's all this about?

Uxellodunum is the name of the stronghold where Gallic troops fought the last battle for the independence of Gaul.

Let's take a step back in time to 51 BC. The surrender of Alesia a year earlier and the capture of its legendary leader Vercingetorix had led to the submission of almost all the peoples of Gaul. But Gaul was not yet powerless. The vanquished quickly got their act together and decided to attack the Romans in small groups at several points at a time.

Just 20 minutes' drive from the Moulin du Boisset is Saint-Sozy, a pretty village close to the Dordogne. This is the starting point for our new hike. On a loop of just over 8 km, you'll discover a multitude of varied landscapes representative of the Dordogne Valley.

Right from the start, you're surrounded by fields of corn and walnut trees, grown on the fertile banks of the Dordogne. The river flows peacefully nearby, but you can still hear the cries of joy from children bathing in its waters, a group of young people camp on the beach of a small island, a fisherman casts his rod, a canoe goes by, a swan splashes about, there's life.

Did you know that just 15 minutes' drive from the Moulin du Boisset is the famous village of Collonges-la-Rouge, built entirely with red stone?

These red stones, from quarries that no longer exist, whose colour comes from the iron oxide they contain, are also present at the Moulin. The outside paving is made of them. You can also see them in places on the facade and in larger quantities on the walls of the Chambre Royale. But let's get back to Collonges-la-Rouge.

It has just been published. THE guide published by the Dordogne Valley Tourist Office:

- This is our reference guide. - The one we're happy to give you when you arrive at the Moulin du Boisset.

- The one that brings together all the sites to visit in our beautiful region and more specifically in the immediate vicinity of the Moulin, in the Dordogne Valley and southern Corrèze.