The bike path of Sarlat: from Sarlat-la-Canéda to Cazoulès

The Promenade Périgord Quercy is a beautiful greenway and cycle route that is built on the path of the old railway line from Sarlat to Cazoulès. It is a perfect place for cycling with the family , walking on foot or on rollerblades, scooters ... It is a lane reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. Good to know: it is flat and going down most of the way, which means that if it's nice to go down from Sarlat, it will then go back! Nothing insurmountable, but better to plan with the little ones. Let's go ?

35 kilometers to stroll, relax and do some sports

The Green Way of Sarlat is the ideal place to walk safely. There are no cars or motor vehicles. From Sarlat, you leave the city towards Lot, until you reach a car park on the right, after the Leclerc shopping center.

Park and get ready. If you do not have one, you can rent a bike at the Liberty Cycle hut. You can rent bikes for half a day, for the day or for a multi-day getaway. I met a group of friends who had left for 4 days with everything you need to take breaks in bed and breakfast, even in the Lot. You can rent mountain bikes, VTCs or even electric bikes comfortable and ergonomic.

Check out the map at the beginning, to organize your roaming. You notice that there is a way that allows you to reach the Lot , it is the one I took, but there is also a path that goes to the Dordogne Valley and Roque Gageac (on the right when you ride, but not mentioned on the map). Good to know for next time!

Start of the Sarlat greenway

Check out the information panel

A greenway on an old railway

The road is paved , which is convenient for the youngest, it slides alone on a bike. Beware of dead leaves in autumn, which sometimes hide the side of the coating and can cause skidding when you cross other bikes. At first, it goes down flat. It's nice, we unroll the miles without problem. The path is nestled in the vegetation , we also go into strange and beautiful rocky environments (go see IN the pots shaped rocks ). In summer, the track is nice because very shady and large trees retain moisture. We pause to study the signs along the route, with historical and geological information.

The road goes down easily!

It is an old railway road

Small picturesque memories of that time

Follow the signs it's easy

Stroll through the Giant's Marmites

Just before Carsac Aillac , the landscape changes , the track goes up a bit and you arrive in a more caustic environment . The trees are more stocky and dry stone walls demarcate the way, it's very pretty! The way is clear, we arrive on the heights of the village and you can even park the bikes and take a coffee break or shop in the village. Think about it to take an anti-theft for your bike. The way separates then, on one side we go towards Cazoulès, while passing by Aillac, Calviac-in-Perigord, Rouffillac and towards the Lot, on the other, one continues towards Groléjac (I used this way).

The landscape changes, it's the causse

A nice dry stone wall

We then go to a sports complex and the school in the old station is picturesque . We continue then in the fields , we overhang pretty combes before joining the bridge on the Dordogne , a little before Groléjac. This is where we had a picnic break. There is a path on the right of the bridge, which leads to the piers and allows you to stop . Athletes will be able to take a canoe tour in season.

Enjoy this beautiful place , the birds (herons, swans, ducks and other small birds seen at our passage). There are sometimes fishermen. We had lunch and turned around: with a young child, we preferred to keep our forces for the return to Sarlat, because the slight slope makes the course more difficult without speeds on small bikes! We returned quietly for a walk of 18km in 4 hours.

The sports complex and the former Carsac train station

The combe with the cornfields

The Dordogne Bridge

Perfect for a picnic on the banks of the Dordogne

Enjoy swans

Continue to walk in Black Périgord

And why not continue your day with these few sites and activities to visit near the greenway of Sarlat?

In Sarlat , you can climb to the top of the Sainte-Marie church to have a good view of the whole Medieval City . Watch our video report and photos
To rent bikes from Carsac (which is a good idea if you go to the Lot) go see Périgord Vélo.
In Carsac Aillac, there are the Water Gardens , which are original and very popular with children. Go see water lilies, lotus of all colors. Look at their website because the Water Gardens are not open all year.
The most sporty will love to see all the top of the treetops in the Monkey's Forest , a tree climbing park with 13 courses and a zip line 800m.
One of our favorite sites for a family day: The Calviac Zoological Reserve is a park for the care and protection of endangered species . An unusual place and very pleasant for a walk at all times of the year.
For Gourmands, visit the Ferme de Vialard in Carsac Aillac, a shop with good local and artisan products.