Livernon: Dolmens, Menhir and Dry-Stone Construction

Livernon lies in the UNESCO Global Geopark Causses du Quercy. The stone landmarks and the Causse landscape are the main features that shape the impression of the place when choosing where to stay. Hiking routes also take up these themes and set them in a landscape context.

Landscape and dry-stone construction

The Mas de Tourel is a remarkable rural ensemble from the 18th and 19th centuries, near the centre of Livernon on the Causse de Gramat. It comprises a cazelle, a bakery, a barn and a pigsty. The ensemble was built from dry stone and roofed with stone slabs. It stands in a dry grassland landscape with small oak trees and dry-stone walls. The combination of the different buildings, the construction method and the walls across the terrain makes the Mas de Tourel an illustrative example of rural architectural heritage.

The Cazelle du Lac de Lacam lies near Lake Saint-Namphaise, whose water reflects the dry-stone structure. At the Puits Mage, the work in the rock takes centre stage: it is considered the most significant of Livernon’s approximately twenty wells and is largely hewn into the rock.

Monuments from different eras

The chamber of the Dolmen de la Pierre Martine served as a tomb for people of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. Several human skulls and a copper knife were found there. The dolmen has been listed as a historic monument since 1889. The burial use and the finds offer insight into the chamber’s prehistoric significance; the listing dates its protected status.

At the Église Saint-Rémy, the Romanesque apse and bell tower have been listed as historic monuments since 9 April 1910. The church also has fifteen stained-glass windows from the late 19th century. The time span thus ranges from prehistoric burial use to a later addition to the church’s furnishings.

The Menhir de Bélinac is the largest menhir in the Lot. The limestone slab, almost 3.55 metres tall, tilts slightly to the south. The circular hiking route to this menhir starts in Livernon, is 8.2 kilometres long, is rated easy and is designed to take about two hours. At 8.2 kilometres, it is shorter than the approximately 13-kilometre Circuit de Livernon-Assier-Viazac; about two hours are allowed for the route.

Hiking routes and seasonal connections

The Circuit de Livernon-Assier-Viazac has no major difficulties. It follows paths across the Causse, lined with dry-stone walls, and passes two dolmens and exceptionally crafted cazelles in the vicinity of Viazac. The route is approximately 13 kilometres long. Some sections of the route marking may be incomplete; bear this in mind when navigating.

The seasonal summer LIO tourist route 876 serves Livernon and runs between Figeac and Padirac. As it is a summer service, check the current operating days and travel details before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Cahus, Issendolus, Montvalent, Anglars, Camboulit, Espagnac-Sainte-Eulalie, Leyme, Saint-Cyprien

For the overall travel overview: Lot.