Bort les Orgues: a village, a dam and above all, its organs!

Bort-les-Orgues is a Green Station, a very pleasant place for holidays due to its plural nature: there are plenty of things to discover there and the town is ideally located for touring the region and making visits and sports activities, nautical. Bort-les-Orgues takes its name from its astonishing rock formation which dominates the village, the “organs”. These are sorts of columns, octagonal, reminiscent of the pipes of organs (musical instrument). Come with us to discover the attractions of Bort-les-Orgues in the Dordogne Valley.

Photos of the article: Corrèze guide

The Village, the organs of bort

The village of Bort-les-Orgues is equipped with all the necessary amenities, there are 2 or 3 shopping streets and a pleasant square to sip a drink or a coffee. You won't necessarily spend hours walking around there, but you can discover the interesting Tannery Museum, an activity that once flourished. The leather trades have found their fulfillment in Bort-les-0rgues, as well as the work of silk, the manufacture of leather and wood galoshes and millinery (hat manufacture).

Take your car, go to Avenue Gambetta to enjoy a nice view of the Orgues, from afar. Then, set off to attack this plateau to get a closer look at these curious basalt columns which date back 15 million years. The road winds, you can see pretty views of the heart of the town, then you arrive on the plateau, park your car (parking is free). The organs are at an altitude of 790 meters and run for more than 2 kilometers in length! From there you will enjoy a sumptuous view of the Massif Central. An orientation table will detail the peaks to contemplate, between the Monts du Cantal and those of Puy-de-Dôme.

Once at the top, you can have a snack or a drink at the bar facing the view. Picnic tables are at your disposal as well as 2 walking routes to discover the natural environment. Climbing enthusiasts will find on this site, about thirty interesting routes and some in 2 lengths of the multi-pitch type.

The Bort-les-Orgues dam and the reservoir near the Château de Val

Have you finished your hike? Want to relax and cool off? Direction the Château de Val site, to go swimming on the beach of the Bort-les-Orgues dam reservoir. Several beaches are available (fr) along this gigantic 21 km long reservoir (the third largest in France).

The Castle, which dates from the 15th century, once dominated a Valley 30m high, which is now covered by water to supply the electric dam in 1951. It is an elegant castle with its 6 towers which now observe today with peace of mind, tourists enjoying the attractions of the lake. In season, you will discover art exhibitions and shows and concerts “Wednesdays at the Castle”.

The reservoir is an unparalleled land of nautical activities! You can swim, sunbathe, jump on inflatable structures, take a speedboat ride, practice water skiing, rent canoes/kayaks, motor boats (even without a license) and on the beach, children enjoy games and trampolines.

If after all these adventures you still have energy, we recommend that you visit the very informative EDF information center at the Bort-les-Orgues dam. Free, it allows you to understand the issue around the construction of hydroelectric dams in general and more specifically that of Bort-les-Orgues. With models, interpretation panels, archive photos, games, information on the preservation of flora and fauna and technical information on the operation of the dam, it is a complete and accessible place to the whole family.

We wish you happy holidays in the Bort-les-Orgues region!

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