Our take
Gorges you can't see from the plateaux: the Dordogne rolls between the rocks there, under a dense forest, with fine trout. The D987 bridge serves as the way in and the site remains little known.
Between Messeix and Avèze, the still-young Dordogne runs through a rocky corridor covered in forest. A bridge, anglers' banks, fast-flowing water.
The Dordogne is still very young here. Barely down from the Sancy, it plunges into a rocky corridor covered in forest, between Messeix and Avèze. From the plateaux, nothing gives it away: the gorges stay hidden.
You go down by the D987, a road of hairpin bends that plunges to the bridge over the Dordogne. Park there, then follow the river as closely as you can: fast current, big boulders, cool water even in midsummer.
The spot is known to trout anglers, with a long waymarked no-kill stretch. Bring good shoes, the stones are slippery. And take care on the way down, the road is narrow in places.
Why we love it
- The still-young Dordogne, barely down from the Sancy, rolling between the rocks
- Gorges that give nothing away from the plateaux
- The fast current and cool water even in midsummer
- The trout of the no-kill stretch, under a dense forest
Top tip
Round off the outing with the Messeix mine museum: the village lived off coal until 1988, and the Saint-Louis pit tells that story a few kilometres from the gorges. The museum opens in the afternoon in the warmer months: check before you go.
Before you go
- Late spring, when the river runs strong and the forest is a fresh green.
- You go down by the D987, a winding road that is narrow in places: ease off the accelerator.
- Park at the bridge over the Dordogne, that's where you reach the banks.
- The stones at the water's edge are slippery, so bring good shoes.
- If you're coming with a rod, the area is a long waymarked no-kill stretch.
Weather for the next 3 days
Today
14°/4°
2 mm · 24 km/h
Tomorrow
14°/2°
dry · 11 km/h
Tue 27
19°/8°
0 mm · 16 km/h
Source: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). General lowland forecasts, to be cross-checked with specialist mountain forecasts at altitude.
Practical info
- Address
- Gorges d'Avèze, 63750 Messeix, France
63750 Messeix
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