Saint-Avit-Senieur

Visit Saint-Avit-Senieur, Aquitaine

In the quiet wooded valleys of the southern Dordogne department (to the east of the bastide town of Beaumont-du-Perigord) the attractive countryside is very picturesque and largely undiscovered by visitors - it is here that we find several quiet villages of note, including Saint-Avit-Senieur.

A small village - although Saint-Avit is large enough to have a welcome cafe - there is a cluster of attractive houses in the local Dordogne stone around a shady central square in the centre of the village.

The Abbey of Saint-Avit Senieur

The main monument in Saint-Avit-Senieur is an ensemble of buildings that are the remains of a substantial abbey complex dating back to the 13th century, and now a listed UNESCO heritage site.

The abbey was originally constructed here in memory of a 6th century hermit (Saint Avit - then Avitus) who took refuge here, and received a sign from God when he stopped in front of a pagan temple which collapsed when he prayed in front of it. The site later became an important stop on the pilgrimage route from Vezelay (Burgundy) to Santiago de Compostella (Spain).

Although not all the original buildings are still standing you can still see the church, the presbytery, and the dormitory in which the monks slept.

The presbytery is on two levels, the ground floor dating from the 13th century while the upper storey and picturesque balcony was added during the 17th century. The main church is rather austere inside but note some fading frescoes and decorations on the walls.

Close to the village

Head a little way down the hill from Saint-Avit-Senieur to see an old lavoir and a nice view back up to the abbey above the trees. From here you can contine a couple of kilometres down a scenic road through the valley towards Beaumont or take a small turning to the left which leads to Montferrand, another picturesque local village.

Alternatively there are numerous walks and trails through the surrounding countryside - see the signpost outside the abbey church for directions (the village is too small to have its own tourist office) for some of the many options.

See Aquitaine and Dordogne (the region and department for Saint-Avit-Senieur) for more travel ideas...

Photos of Saint-Avit-Senieur

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Suggested places to visit near Saint-Avit-Senieur, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Tremolat 11km; Monpazier 12km; Limeuil 14km; Belves 15km; Villereal 16km; Chateau de Biron 17km; Issigeac 17km; Le Bugue 18km; Saint-Cyprien 21km; Castillonnes 22km; Les Eyzies 24km;

Saint-Avit-Senieur tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Eglise Sainte-Croix (Beaumont-du-Perigord) - religious monument (4km) : Abbaye de Cadouin (Le Buisson-de-Cadouin) - religious monument (10km) : Eglise de Saint-Hilaire et Eglise de Saint-Nicholas (Tremolat) - religious monument (11km) : Jardin de Planbuisson - remarkable garden (11km) : Jardins de la Bourlie - remarkable garden (11km) : Abbaye de Saint Martial (Paunat) - religious monument (15km) : Eglise Notre Dame de l'Assomption (Belves) - religious monument (15km) : Eglise de saint-Pierre (Audrix) - religious monument (16km) :

See more places and a map at places near Saint-Avit-Senieur