By the waterside
What to do on a beautiful summer’s day? Take a day off at the waterside! Enjoy a canoe or kayak trip, take a guided boat tour in a “gabarre” or just go for a swim.
Two major rivers run through the Dordogne department near Molières: the Dordogne and the Vézère. These two rivers meet at the pretty village of Limeuil, 15km north of Molières.
On July 11th 2012, the Dordogne River and its basin were designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO . It is in this preserved nature that you can swim or navigate.
Canoe and kayak
It is possible to canoe or kayak on both the Dordogne and Vézère rivers. Many canoe and kayak rental companies offer trips of different lengths.
Our favourites are the “Canoës Roquegoffre”. They offer a magnificent 14 km route on the Dordogne during which you will have a unique view of La-Roque-Cageac, Castelnaud, Marqueyssac, Fayrac, Beynac and Les Milandes. The starting point is in Port d’Envaux, about 30 km from Molières. A bus will take you upstream. On this quiet river you paddle at your own rhythm downstream. You will have plenty of time to swim and picnic.
Children are allowed from 5 years of age.
Want a taste of the programme?
This video of “Steps by Kaatje” will make your mouth water!
Swimming
What could be better than a refreshing swim on a hot summer day?
Forget the chlorinated swimming pools and swim in the lovely natural water of our Dordogne river, one of the cleanest rivers in France.
Within 10 to 15 km from our village you can find several beaches. Here are some examples:
- the beach at the “Pont de Vic” in Le Buisson,
- the beach in the village of Limeuil
- and not to forget: the beach at the “Bac de Sors” in Alles-sur-Dordogne, our favourite.
Of course, a river means a current… and swimming against the current can be a real sporting challenge! So, be careful and don’t get carried away… by your enthusiasm. But don’t worry, you’ll love it and so will the children!
Touristic boat trips
You would like to enjoy a unique view of the castles from the Dordogne river, but you don’t feel like going on a canoe trip? Or maybe it’s a bit too cold for that at the beginning or end of the season? Then a trip in a “gabarre” can be a great alternative.
“Gabarres” are traditional flat-bottomed boats that were used in the past to transport goods by river, often in very difficult conditions.
Several companies use motorised replicas of these boats and offer interesting guided boat trips. Departures are from Beynac or La-Roque-Gageac. These are 3 companies that operate in the area:
- Les “Gabarres de Beynac”, see also this article about them
- Les “Gabarres Norbert”, departing from La-Roque-Gageac
- Les “Gabarres Caminade”, also in La-Roque-Gageac.
The choice is yours!
So, whether you are more or less sporty, you will have a great time on or in the water!
Ready for active discovery?
Go for a walk
Molières is a paradise for hikers. There are routes for both beginners and experienced hikers.
Get pedalling !
By road bike or mountain bike, you can discover beautiful landscapes and magnificent villages..
Saddle up !
Set off on horse or pony to discover the magnificent paths of the “Pays des Bastides“.
