• The resort
The name "Argentat" derives from the Celtic word "argentoratum", meaning “where the river flows through”: a perfect description of this town in the heart of the Dordogne Valley (a listed national heritage site), with paved embankments spreading along both sides of the Dordogne.
Visit the old town centre with its little streets and elegant houses with turrets and pepperboxes.
• The surrounding area
Natural heritage:
-“Les Cascades de Murel” in Albussac (13 km): a series of 3 waterfalls formed by La Franche Valeine, flowing into a labyrinth of rocks.
-The Dordogne Valley and Gorges lying between Bort-Les-Orgues and Beaulieu.
-The Feyt Lake in Servières-Le-Château (7 km).
-The Chastang Dam.
-The 143 m-high Gimel waterfalls (34 km).
-“Gouffre de la Fage” in Noailles (48 km): a multitude of stalactites, a richly ornate calcite bridge, beautiful coloured shapes like draperies, fantastical figures and pillars, and a palaeontology museum.
Castles:
-"Tours de Merle" in St-Geniez-O-Merle (17 km): perched on their rocky peak, these towers rising above the Maronne are the ruins of a feudal 11th/15th century fortress. An exceptionally well-preserved heritage.
-Servières-le-Château (7 km), with houses nestling around the former castle of the Viscounts of Turenne.
-15th century castle at Pompadour (80 km): visit the terraces, stud farm and stallion station.
-Remains of Couzages Castle in Chasteaux (60 km).
-“Château de Sédières” (15th / 16th century castle) in Clergoux (30 km).
-Ruins of Ventadour Castle in Moustier Ventadour (47 km).
The most beautiful villages of France:
-Collonges-la-Rouge (35 km): a mediaeval village built in red sandstone.
-Curemonte (33 km): the only mediaeval village with 3 castles in its centre.
-Turenne (49 km): ruins of the feudal castle, 15th, 16th and 17th century houses and private mansions, the still visible remains of fortifications dating from the 15th to 17th centuries, and the wide panoramic views to the south extending beyond the Dordogne Valley.
-Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne (23 km): a charming mediaeval town.
Traditional arts & crafts, museums:
-“Maison du Patrimoine” (from the protohistoric period to the present day) in Argentat.
-“Canal des Moines” in Aubazine (31 km).
-“Musée vivant de l'oie” (live goose museum) in Collonges-la-Rouge (35 km).
-“Les Pans de Travassac” in Donzenac (54 km): the slate trade and techniques.