Site Naturel des Tourbières de Vendoire
This region teeming with rivers, streams, ponds and lakes is shared between meadows, woodland and crops, depending on the type of subsoil (granite, limestone, clay or shale).
Périgord Vert – the lush green part of Dordogne.
This region teeming with rivers, streams, ponds and lakes is shared between meadows, woodland and crops, depending on the type of subsoil (granite, limestone, clay or shale). It is home to a wide diversity of wildlife and its many natural attractions have been developed and promoted to offer visitors a fun way to discover the countryside.
You can find out everything you want to know about local flora, aquatic environments, geology, the countryside and history of the region through nature discovery trails, observatories or visitor centres at different sites.
One of these is the Site Naturel des Tourbières de Vendoire, an unusual, little-known area of wetland at the bottom of the Lizonne valley with unique and varied plant life. The Maison des Tourbières information centre recounts both the natural history and human activity in this alkaline peat bog area dating back thousands of years.
Acidic or alkaline water results in very different types of bog. The Vendoire one has remained alkaline and, in fact, changes from alkaline to acidic bogs can only occur at altitude as freezing temperatures and plentiful rain and snow are essential.
Peat bogs are extremely complex physical and biological environments of immense scientific and historical importance, but with a very fragile equilibrium.
At Vendoire, you can walk on the water ! In total, this area of fenland covers 102 hectares of peat 4 to 6 metres deep containing 4.5 - 5 million cubic metres of water.
Peat is commonly used as fuel, in Ireland for example, and in Scotland where peat fires are used to dry barley in the manufacture of certain Scotch whiskies. It was long used as a building material in areas where wood was scarce, for example in Iceland, where it was used in the Middle Ages to construct farms and in Ireland where poor families used it to build cottages.
The Tourbières de Vendoire natural attraction has plenty for families to do like fishing, themed workshops, guided tours (booking required) and various outdoor activities. There is a restaurant too.
The centre opens at Easter. April, June, September : Thursday – Sunday plus public holidays. July and August : Every day except Tuesday.
The nature discovery trails are freely accessible all year round.
Contact : TOURBIERES DE VENDOIRE Le Petit Lyon 24320 Vendoire
SatNav : Lat. 45.407481 Long. 0.280248
The Site Naturel des Tourbières de Vendoire is on the edge of the Parc Régional Naturel Périgord Limousin, near the villages of Brantôme and Nontron."
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