Maxou: Churches, Hiking Trails and Winegrowing

Maxou offers several specific themes to help you plan your trip: the architectural history of Notre Dame de l’Assomption, Saint-Pierre church in the hamlet of Brouelles, routes through valleys and over limestone slopes, and the winegrowing at Mas Levigné. Cultural, scenic and culinary points of interest sit side by side. If you choose a destination based on your interests, Maxou offers clearly identifiable features to include in your plans.

Churches and Architectural History

The nave of Notre Dame de l’Assomption dates from the late 11th or early 12th century. The apse has six blind arches and three high, narrow openings. These openings are associated with the church’s medieval defensive function. The north chapel was added in the early 16th century; the wall bell tower dates from the 19th century. This sequence shows that the building encompasses several phases of development: the early nave was followed by a chapel and, much later, the bell tower.

Saint-Pierre in Brouelles is a small Romanesque building with a short nave, a section with a bell tower and a semicircular apse topped by a quarter-sphere vault. Based on the shape of the portal and the archaic decoration, the oldest parts are thought to date from the early 12th century. A two-bay south chapel was added in the late 15th or early 16th century. The choir paintings can be dated to the late 18th or very early 19th century. Thus, Brouelles brings together a presumed early building core, a later addition and even more recent paintings. The hamlet belonging to Maxou is also home to a restored washhouse.

Routes and Scenery

The routes described offer different highlights. A hiking route to Maxou follows the Ruisseau de Maxou valley to the village. A hiking route from Saint-Pierre-Lafeuille to Maxou leads to Notre Dame de l’Assomption, which dates from the 11th and 12th centuries. The trail also leads to the ruins of Revel, which may be the 13th-century manor house of the Revel family. Keep away from the ruins because of the risk of falling stones; check current local conditions before setting out.

The De Maxou à Brouelles route passes through two small, shaded valleys and over limestone slopes. The Circuit de Maxou has different key details: this easy circular route is 7.5 kilometres long, includes 182 metres of elevation gain and takes about two hours. These figures help you assess the route by distance, elevation gain and approximate duration, while the route to Brouelles is characterised mainly by its scenery.

Winegrowing at Mas Levigné

Mas Levigné is a three-hectare winery in the commune of Maxou, on clay-limestone soil. It is farmed organically and has been certified as such since 2017. Since 2018, Mas Levigné has also pursued biodynamic farming. The two years mark separate milestones: organic certification dates from 2017, with biodynamic farming added from 2018. Free tours and wine tastings are offered year-round. The winery adds a distinct theme to your trip planning alongside the churches and routes.

Discover more destinations: Belmont-Bretenoux, Terrou, Varaire, Masclat, Montgesty, Baladou, Reilhaguet, Teyssieu.

For the broader travel overview: Lot.