What to do in winter in Corrèze?

Corrèze is a rural department, with all the charm of these regions which inexorably lose their foliage in the cold season. Are you looking for ideas to keep you busy during your holidays in Corrèze in winter? Activities to do as a family when it's raining and cold? From north to south of the department, nature is generous, as well as gastronomy and culture, so put on a down jacket, get motivated and follow us to fill up on ideas for activities to do in winter in Corrèze!

Photo credit under each photo. Opening photo: Allassac in winter Photo by PhilippeGraillePhoto / Adobe Stock

Doing winter sports and skiing in Corrèze

Corrèze is not a mountainous region, one could rather describe it as hilly. The highest peak is Mont Bessou which rises to just under 1000m above sea level. That being said, in years when the snow honors us with its presence and it holds at medium altitude, you can go snowshoeing and cross- country or cross- country skiing at the Bonnefond resort! This town which is at the crossroads between Treignac, Meymac and Egletons and Bugeat is 920m above sea level. There are 4 snowshoe trails, 5 cross-country ski trails and a space for tobogganing. You will find on the spot what to rent equipment. You are located in the heart of the Plateau de Millevaches and the view of the surrounding mountains is unparalleled.

The other closest resorts are Le Lioran in the Monts du Cantal, Super-Besse and Mont-Dore (Massif du Sancy in the Puy-de-Dôme), La Bourboule and Chastreix.

Visit cultural sites and castles in Corrèze in winter

No, not everything is closed in winter, even if the offer is more limited, it is true. Regarding the castles in Corrèze, you can visit some of them, just take a walk near others.

Here are the castles to visit in winter in Corrèze

• The Château de Turenne is open during the winter, only on Sundays as well as the Christmas and February school holidays (every day), from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• The Château de Ventadour will only open its doors by reservation and for a group of 15 people minimum, if you have a family reunion for the holidays or you are a group of friends, so it's a good idea!
• The Tours de Carbonnières are freely accessible all year round. In Xaintrie, it is a magical site which can be reached with an easy walk of about 20/30 minutes. It's a great idea for a family outing, there's even a puzzle game to do with the Tèrra Aventura app.
• The Château de Val cannot be visited, but you can admire it, go around it, all year round. It opens its doors again to admire its exhibitions from the beginning of February (around the 5th) every day except Tuesday, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Belonging to the Department of Corrèze, the Château de Sédières is a pleasant place in all seasons. You can walk around the castle (which is only open inside in summer), see the outdoor exhibition, go hiking and sports activities in the surroundings, cycling, orienteering, fishing...

Go hiking in winter in Corrèze

Take out the technical clothing, fleeces, scarves and hats. Let's go for beautiful hikes in Corrèze, in autumn and winter! This is the ideal season for observing wildlife, as well as certain landscapes. As Corrèze is a rural department with many deciduous forests, the landscape changes completely during the winter when the deciduous trees have their winter clothes!

Check out our article on the best hikes in Corrèze, to find paths that suit your needs. In the Plateau de Millevaches and in the Massif des Monédières, you will enjoy a magnificent view… The hikes around the waterfalls such as in Gimel or the Cascades de Murel near Argentat are interesting because the forest covered with moss and the waterfalls are in waters. Choose a beautiful day to take advantage of a magnificent luminosity. We also like the walk on the top of the basalt rock formation of Bort-les-Orgues! With the children, take the Sente aux Cochons, fun and very original, or, further north of the department, the path of the Peat bogs of Longeyroux. Give them a magnifying glass or binoculars to observe the particular flora and fauna of the bogs.

Visit the charming towns and villages of Corrèze

Corrèze has a very beautiful cultural and architectural heritage! It really is a department where you can marvel for free at the beauty of small, simple and authentic villages. The people are friendly and you will come across very natural roads, producers, small shops with artisanal products or live food from breeders, curators, etc.

Let us recommend some towns and villages:

• In winter, Meyssac and Collonge-la-Rouge will bring a little color to your daily life, thanks to their town built with surprising red stones.
• In the small village of Chasteaux, not a beautiful winter afternoon, you will have a very pretty sunset on the Lac du Causse. Take a seat at the top of the bell tower of the village church. Before that, don't miss to go around the lake (about 7km), it's very pleasant.
• On a beautiful Sunday, go for a walk in Turenne, because the castle is open to visitors and anyway, it's a nice walk to do, you can enjoy a beautiful view from the top of the village (sumptuous view from the most high tower of the castle, whose entrance is derisory)!
• Uzerche is also a charming town, with small cafes and restaurants open in the off season, to get your fill after a walk along the banks of the Vézère, along the old paper mill district.
• Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne is pretty in all seasons, we particularly like its footbridge over the Dordogne, which leads to another bank from which the view of the city is magnificent.
• In Perpezac-le-Blanc, it is the surrounding landscapes that are worth it, you are in the Yssandonnais, it is hilly and you will enjoy a pretty view, around Ayen.

A little sport, we discover the via ferrata!

On a beautiful winter day like we often have in the southwest, when daytime temperatures exceed 10 degrees (below, it's freezing but it's doable!), discover the pleasures of the via ferrata. It is an activity halfway between hiking and climbing, accessible with little equipment from 10/12 years old, well accompanied by a confident adult. You must bring a harness and a strap with a fall absorption system. Watch videos on your favorite site or ask your local sports store for advice.

It's easy, just follow the course by clipping onto the cable using 2 lanyards. Via Ferratas are installed in nature, free of charge.

In Corrèze, there are 2: The Via Ferrata du Saillant, west of Brive in the Vézère Valley and the Via Ferrata near Argentat. If you like this activity, a whole world opens up to you because there are plenty of them everywhere in France! And you can even start climbing... There are many accessible cliffs in Corrèze and in the bordering departments...

Visit the Museums of Corrèze

Some museums are open all year round in Corrèze, just make a quick phone call. For example:

• The discovery area of the Meyssac geological fault and the stone at Noailhac,
• The Departmental Resistance Museum "Henri Queuille" in Neuvic,
• The Labenche Museum of Art and History of the city of Brive,
• The Michelet Museum in Brive
• The Tannery and Leather Museum and small school museum in Bort-les-Orgues,
• The Meymac Contemporary Art Center (numerous exhibitions).
  

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