Bort les Orgues, a manufacturing town Towns & Villages in Bort-les-Orgues

For green holidays surrounded by nature, the Station Verte de Bort-les-Orgues in Haute-Corrèze is an ideal destination. To the east of the department, at the crossroads between Corrèze, Puy-de-Dôme and Cantal, Bort-les-Orgues is a name that may be familiar to you? It is its original and curious geological formation that has made its success! Above the village as if to watch over it, 2 kilometers of cliffs formed of basalt columns (former volcanic flows) which swell the rocky flank, reminiscent of gigantic organ pipes (musical instrument)… Hence the name of the city! At the top of these cliffs culminates a large plateau which is an excellent vantage point for contemplating Auvergne and the Massif Central. Days with little cloud cover (spring and autumn mornings, for example) are a real treat… Take advantage of this to take one of the walking paths and stroll around the plateau to admire the peripheral panorama.

The town of Bort-les-Orgues benefits from all the amenities to be an ideal pivot point for a sports or relaxing holiday! It is a gateway to the Regional Natural Park of the Volcanoes of Auvergne, a sort of seaside resort in the countryside! The city is crossed by the Dordogne, which has always been a resort of choice for humanity, we know the Gallic occupation, then Roman and the church of Bort dates from the Middle Ages. The city grows and is even offered the right to build fortifications to protect its property. It is a place of commerce and the wealth of the inhabitants leaves as testimony beautiful buildings such as the Château de Pierrefitte and the Val Castle, today surrounded by water. The city turns to industry in the 19th century, it manufactures galoshes (kinds of leather clogs with wooden sole, abundant in the region). The spinning of silk, leather and its tanning, as well as the millinery offer jobs to the inhabitants, then later the manufacture of textiles in general.

It was in 1942 that the construction of the Bort-les-Orgues dam began, an impressive and daring work 119 meters high, 390 meters wide, 80 meters thick, which retains the waters of the Dordogne, flooding a part of the valley where the Château de Val is located. Its construction required almost 10 years of effort, for an impoundment in the early 1950s. While the needs of industry are scarce, jobs with it, the city finds a new breath thanks to tourism and the attraction of its natural environment, enhanced and preserved.

What to do in Bort-les-Orgues?

• Admire and visit the dam. It is the most important in Corrèze, on the Dordogne and the 4th in France. It makes it possible to regulate the flow of the “river of hope”, but also to produce electricity. Its water reservoir extends over 21km, it is an incredible water reservoir, which also delimits the border between Corrèze and neighboring Cantal.
• Climbing, you have there a luxury environment, with a breathtaking view, about thirty routes, inquire at the tourist office for the topo.
• Visit the Tannery Museum to learn more about leather crafts. Instructive for children, who will understand how this material is made. Exhibition, film, guided tour and shop.
• Go for a walk to the organ, enjoy the panorama, the hike around the organ is family friendly (4.5 km). We agree that you are located above the rock formation? To take beautiful photos and see the organs from the front, go to the Saint-Thomas area (it is easy to find on a GPS).
• The Château de Val proudly erected in the middle of the waters of the dam is a place of leisure and sport! Water sports are practiced there on the Bort-les-Orgues dam lake: water skiing, canoeing, kayaking, pedal boats, motorboats (with and without a license), paddle, fishing, panoramic speedboat rides, swimming on the beach (supervised in summer, there is a bar and play areas for children)… We won't be bored and in summer, inflatable structures are installed to delight young and old alike.
• Discover hiking in the Saut de la Saule natural area where the Rhue, a fish-filled river, flows. Consult the hiking guide around Bort-les-Orgues (fr), published by the Municipality and available in town or online here. A nice hike to do (watch out for children) is the Site of Saint-Nazaire (12km north of Bort on the D127), a beautiful natural and wild area, with a splendid view of the Dordogne gorges, the one of the most beautiful!
• Do you like swimming pools and slides? Come to the Aqua-Recreation Center in Bort-les-Orgues, a fun and refreshing space!