The best MTB trails around Le Temple-Sur-Lot

This beautiful Voie Verte (Greenway), created in 2008, 2009 and 2010, connects Villeneuve-sur-Lot to Casseneuil. It follows the footprint of two old railway lines on the outskirts of Villeneuve-sur-Lot and at the entrance to Casseneuil. Between these two sections, it is a pretty path that was created along the stream "La Masse".

The Château Solar is an unusual building of medieval origin. It has the unique characteristic in the region of featuring neo-Moorish style architecture and today serves as the Town Hall (Mairie) for the commune. A first fortified castle (castrum) belonged to the Castelmoron family from 1259. Dominating the Lot, it was dismantled in 1345 during the Hundred Years' War. In 1840, the estate was bought by Félix Solar (Aaron Euryale Solar), a wealthy journalist, businessman, and great collector from the village. In the 1850s, he decided to completely rebuild the residence in the Orientalist and neo-Moorish taste of the time. Its architecture was inspired by the splendors of the Alhambra in Granada and the mosque of Cordoba, embellished with wooden galleries, moucharabiehs, and balconies. In 1902, the municipality acquired the building to house the town hall services.

Its foundation dates back to around 1161 or 1180, following a donation from Rainfroid I, lord of Montpezat, before his departure for the Third Crusade. It was used to collect funds (notably through tolls on the Lot) to finance actions in the Holy Land. After the dissolution of the Order of the Temple at the beginning of the 14th century, the commandery was transferred to the Order of the Hospitallers. It was they, notably under the impetus of the commander Bernard Gros at the end of the 15th century, who rebuilt the site and revived the village's activity after the ravages of the Hundred Years' War.

The church is distinguished by the unique superposition of two clearly visible architectural styles: The Romanesque period (12th century): The original apse is built of ashlar. It features a barrel-vaulted apse and a northern side chapel, adorned with significant sculpted decoration. The Neo-Gothic period (19th century): Partially destroyed during the Wars of Religion, the historic nave underwent a major reconstruction starting in 1864 under the direction of architect Gustave Alaux. The facade and the imposing western bell tower were then rebuilt in brick, creating a striking contrast with the medieval stone of the apse.

The Tour du Roy of Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot, located in the Lot-et-Garonne department, is an old urban seigneurial fortified house built between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century. Listed as a Historical Monument since 1925, it represents the only surviving vestige of the town's medieval fortifications. Despite its name "Tour du Roy", it initially belonged to a local lord and not to the crown. Local legend sometimes erroneously attributes it to Richard the Lionheart.

Perched on the heights of the Lot valley, the Capet windmill was built before 1324, but it is found dated 1870 on a stone at the entrance to the mill. Was it demolished and rebuilt? Possible! Be that as it may, this old building was once, as its name indicates, the mill of the lords of Montpezat whose successive castles were razed, except for the vital organ it represented and which constituted the survival of the inhabitants! The Château site where the mill is located was purchased by the municipality in February 1988 and the Capet lands in 1989. In 1998, the municipality decided to restore this mill which, after remaining for many years in a state of abandonment and ruin (only the shaft remained), finally had a new project for life.

top I recommend for pretty photos

very beautiful MTB ride, be careful in winter, quite a lot of mud