Couze-Et-Saint-Front: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Couze-et-Saint-Front is closely linked to the history of rag paper: 13 mills were established along the Couze to produce rag paper. The former papermakers’ village preserves the memory of six centuries of workers’ and master papermakers’ families.

When planning a stay in Couze-et-Saint-Front, you may wish to rent a holiday apartment.

Culture

The Chapelle Saint-Front de Colubri has been listed as a historic monument since 11 May 2015. The decisive factors were its architectural qualities and the exceptional quality of its two figuratively decorated capitals. The Chapelle Saint-Front du Colubri is a former parish church dating from the 12th century. It stands at the end of a rocky spur overlooking the Dordogne.

The Moulin de Larroque is a 13th-century mill where paper is made by hand. It offers more than 150 different types of paper for painting, writing, albums, photographs, cards and stationery. The complete papermaking equipment, the drying-floor building and the mill channel have been listed as a historic monument by decree of 29 November 2013.

The Anciennes papeteries are partially listed as a historic monument; the listings date from 4 and 5 December 1989. The Moulin de la Rouzique has been documented since 1530 and is still in operation today as an ecomuseum of rag paper.

The religious buildings also form part of the historic townscape: the Church of Saint-Pierre and its priory were built in the 12th or 13th century. The Church of Saint-Étienne was built in the last quarter of the 19th century; its large bell and stained-glass windows are precisely dated to 1895.

Landscape

Along the Couze, former mills, drying floors for paper sheets, brick chimneys and houses built partly into the rock can be seen, recalling the town’s industrial past. Font Chaude is a peaceful place to relax among springs that flow down from the slopes and feed the Couze.

Trails

The Boucle de Saint Front is an 11.5-kilometre circular route starting in Couze-et-Saint-Front; it is also a hiking and mountain-biking route in Couze-et-Saint-Front. The Sentier du papetier follows the course of the Couze and offers insights into rag-paper production during visits to the mills.

The Font-Blanque circular route uses various trail markings: GR6, GR6E and an orange triangle. The Font-Blanque hike passes the “Fauteuils des rois”: two seats carved into the rock in the forest, on a rocky slope overlooking the valley.

Les Copains d'Abord is an association dedicated to hiking, discovering nature and access to culture.

Further destinations: Thénac, Mouleydier, Brantôme, Saint-Estèphe, Jayac, Saint-Pantaly-D'ans, Grignols, Allemans.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Dordogne.