Neuvic and the Chateau de Neuvic, Dordogne

Visit Neuvic

Neuvic, whose full name is Neuvic sur l'Isle, is a fairly quiet small town to the east of Mussidan. It has an attractive chateau dating from the 16th century.

The town of Neuvic has a couple of bars, a few shops and a couple of restaurants. Market days are Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Explore Neuvic sur l'Isle

In the centre of Neuvic is the church and the high street. The church was built during the 12 and 13th centuries in Romanesque style which is now most apparent in the nave with its flat buttresses and rounded arched windows.

Later additions to the church mean that it now has a mixed appearance with Gothic and Renaissance additions. Inside the church some parts still have the painted style that was once very common but has largely disappeared. Notice on the side of the church on the outside the fountain with a boars head.

On the edge of the village is the large Chateau de Neuvic built in the Renaissance style and very attractive with its pointed spires. Inside its rooms have been kept in the Renaissance style. It is situated in a large Botanic park which you can visit. You can visit the park for free outside of June, July and August.

The chateau is open for guided visits at 15h30 and 17h00 in July and August (closed Mondays). The park is open April to September, 10.00-12.00 and 14.00-18.00, also closed Mondays.

The park covers six hectares and contains a good selection of trees and shrubs though it is left a bit on the wild side. You can walk along the river to the 'Bain de Diane', an 18th century grotto.

The chateau also has a restaurant with a terrace looking out over the river.

On the edge of the town are a couple of lovely half-timber buildings which have been beautifully built in the style of the ancient houses of the region built with wood and mud as there is not a local supply of stone. The houses are left open so that you can explore the inside of them. There are a couple of rooms for living in, a bread oven and an area for the animals. Typical for small farms of their era. They are known as the 'Maisons Doubleaudes'.

These are traditional buildings of the area and you can see this style of half-timbered building scattered throughout the Dordogne area.

From the Maisons Doubleaudes you can do a pretty little detour. Stay on the road behind the Maisons Doubleaudes and continue over the River Le Vern (which has split in two at this point), continue to a little road signed Les Leonardoux and on to the tiny river beach. Leave the car here and one minutes walk to the left there is a pretty lock and the private chateau de Mauriac.

Cross over the lock to see the River Isle with the château rising above. Very pretty. Taking the other direction it is possible to walk from here along the River Isle to the Maisons Doubleaudes (where the RD44 meets the river, walk along the RD44 a short distance to the right to see the houses).

Places to visit nearby

A few kilometres to the north of Neuvic is the village of St Germain du Salembre with its beautiful chateau. More of a large house really but it has a couple of very pretty balconies.

Saint Astier is also nearby and has an attractive centre. It has a pretty riverside view over the River Isle.