Saint-Germain-Les-Belles

Saint-Germain-Les-Belles offers clear starting points for planning your trip: four hikes of different lengths and starting points, historic sites, and information about getting there by car and train. If you are planning a hotel stay in Saint-Germain-Les-Belles, you can organize your days around whether hiking routes, local history, or a particular way of getting there is your priority. The church, tower, historic walking tour, and fishing lake each bring their own themes to your planning.

Hikes by distance and focus

The four named hikes differ in distance, starting point, and the landscape or local features mentioned along the way. You can start by choosing based on distance or theme, then factor the starting points into your day’s plans.

At 10.5 kilometres, “La Petite Briance” is the longest of the four listed routes. It starts at Place de l’Eglise. Highlights include remarkable trees, two old mills, and the SNCF viaduct. This hike brings natural features and structures together as different points of interest along the same route.

“Les Belles Filles” starts at Place de la Tour, beneath the market hall. The route is 6 kilometres long and takes 1 hour 30 minutes. Highlights include several views of Saint-Germain-les-Belles. Compared with the two 7-kilometre routes, this hike is shorter and is also listed as taking less time.

“Le Martoulet” and “Le Grand Bois” are each 7 kilometres long and take 1 hour 45 minutes. They differ, among other things, in their starting points and the sights mentioned along the way. “Le Martoulet” starts at a car park between Le Martoulet and Le Chargeas. Highlights include La Vergne forest, forest paths, viewpoints, a pond, and the village of Le Chargeas.

“Le Grand Bois” starts at Place de l’Eglise in Saint-Germain-les-Belles. The route offers views of the Petite Briance valley and the viaduct. If you are choosing between the two hikes of equal length, you can compare their different starting points and focuses: forest, pond, and Le Chargeas on one route; the valley and viaduct on the other.

Church, tower, and historic walking tour

The Église Saint-Germain was rebuilt in the 14th century. Before that, Hugues Roger, brother of Pope Clement VI and Cardinal of Tulle, had designated it in his will as the recipient of an endowment to establish a collegiate church. The medieval tower is the oldest building in the commune. It was a fortified tower in the Middle Ages and was later used as a prison. The church and tower thus represent different chapters in the local history.

The historic “Circuit découverte du village” walking tour goes from the church, through the Venelle, to Place du Petit Barry. In 2026, it can be done independently year-round. You can explore its stops on your own in the stated order: from the church building, through the Venelle, to the square. The tour offers a self-guided way to learn about the history of the area.

Fishing lake and getting there

The “Montréal” fishing lake is managed by the Haute-Vienne departmental fishing federation. It has a jetty accessible to people with disabilities. If you include a visit to the lake in your plans, this jetty is a specific feature to take into account.

For travel by car, the A20 passes through Saint-Germain-les-Belles; the commune is connected via junction 42. The town is also served by the SNCF Paris–Toulouse railway line. If you are travelling by train, check the timetable for your planned travel day. Together with the hikes’ different starting points, this travel information can help you plan your arrival and your days separately.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Julien-Le-Petit, Saint-Martin-le-Vieux, Pierre-Buffière, Moissannes, Nouic, Chaptelat, Bataillou, Arnac-La-Poste

For the overview of the wider area: Haute-Vienne.