Thauron: Walks, history and bison tours

When planning a trip to Thauron, walks in the Gorges du Thaurion and several cultural heritage sites take centre stage. A guided bison tour adds a separate activity to these themes. If you are looking for a hotel in Thauron, you can consider whether the landscape, the history or a visit to the bison farm will shape your stay. The different places and activities offer different highlights and can be factored into your plans accordingly.

Walks in the Gorges du Thaurion

The Gorges du Thaurion provide a suitable setting for walks in Thauron. The Circuit de découverte des gorges du Thaurion gives a specific starting point: the route begins at the car park by the bridge over the Thaurion between Thauron and La Chaise. If you plan to follow this route, you can use this as your starting point; check local conditions before setting off. This distinguishes a general interest in walking in the Gorges from planning this specifically named route.

Church, oppidum and historic buildings

The Église Saint-Christophe de Thauron dates from the 12th century and stands on an oppidum. Remains from the Iron Age, Roman period and Frankish period have been found there. This brings together several different historical periods at one site: the 12th century refers to the age of the church, while the finds relate to three other periods. The Cippe gallo-romain de Thauron, also known as “le Chapeau des Anglais”, offers a different way to explore the past. The monument consists of three parts; its oldest parts date from the Gallo-Roman period. This dating applies to the oldest parts, not to the monument as a whole. The church, oppidum and cippe can therefore be considered as distinct cultural heritage topics.

In the hamlet of Le Palais in Thauron, the apse of the church and the abbot’s residence, which dates from the 17th century, are among the remains of Notre-Dame du Palis. The Chapelle de l’abbaye du Palais is a restored chapel on the site of a former Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century. At Notre-Dame, the focus is on the surviving architectural features and the abbot’s residence with its stated date; the chapel links restoration with the historic site of the former abbey. Those interested in the history of the area will find different architectural and historical points of interest here.

Bison tours and practical information

The Élevage de bisons du Palais offers guided tours of the enclosures in vehicles. There is also an exhibition about the traditional uses of bison materials by Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The enclosure tour and the exhibition have different focuses: one is a guided drive through the enclosures, while the other looks at the use of the material in traditional contexts. Tours are also possible for people with reduced mobility, thanks to a range of adapted vehicles. There are no accessible toilets. As booking and operating arrangements may vary, check them before travelling.

The remaining grounds of Notre-Dame du Palis are privately owned and include guest rooms and holiday homes. Check the current availability of this accommodation separately.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Étienne-De-Fursac, Nouzerines, Saint-Pardoux-Morterolles, Saint-Oradoux-De-Chirouze, Faux-La-Montagne, Pionnat, Malleret-Boussac, Saint-Silvain-Bellegarde.

For the broader travel overview: Creuse.