The Crempse flows through Douville from east to west. The long-distance hiking trail GR 654 crosses the village from north to south. Until recently, one of Douville’s streams was home to the rare and endemic white-clawed crayfish; the Tabac also flows into the Crempse on its right bank.
Trails and Waypoints
The pilgrimage route passes the Church of Saint-Front in Douville. Next to the church is a tree-lined park where pilgrims and hikers can stop and rest.
The Boucle de Douville starts at the town hall car park and runs behind the washhouse over a small footbridge crossing a stream.
The GR 654 is a pilgrimage route that connects Namur in Belgium with Montréal-du-Gers at the foot of the Pyrenees and partly follows the Voie de Vézelay.
Those who choose Douville as their destination will want to rent a holiday apartment there.
Culture and Architectural Heritage
The Church of Saint-Front was built in the Gothic style. Its floor plan is elongated and comprises a nave and a choir with a flat end. The Chapel of Saint-Mamet dates from the 13th century.
The Forge du Pont was built at the beginning of the 17th century by the Chieze family, who worked as master blacksmiths. The Forge du Pont’s industry used wood from the surrounding hillsides, iron ore from the iron-rich uplands, and the abundant rural workforce.
The small Moulin du Pont is documented as a surviving mill. The Château de Lestaubière was rebuilt in the 19th century on the foundations of a medieval building; its estate includes a surviving mill and its millrace. The estate is privately owned and not open to the public.
Other places: Montagnac-La-Crempse, Beynac-Et-Cazenac, Boisseuilh, Laveyssière, Monpazier, Bassillac, Tourtoirac, Monsec
