Belvès
Member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Known as the village of seven bell towers, Belvès grew as a fortified castrum in the 11th century on a rocky spur above the Nauze valley in the Périgord Noir. Its name means "beautiful view". For more than five hundred years its only lord was the Archbishop of Bordeaux, and the Tour de l'Auditoire and a gateway still survive from the old stronghold.
Highlights
- The Tour de l'Auditoire, a survivor of the medieval castrum
- An old gateway from the village's 11th-century fortifications
- Views over the Nauze valley from the rocky spur
- The skyline that earned it the name "village of seven bell towers"
Text adapted from Wikipedia (Belvès (FR), Belvès (EN), Belvès (IT)), Wikivoyage (Belvès). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Population: 1,268
Events through the year
- Bach festivalA series of Bach concerts, four in the 2025 edition
- Flea market
- Capelou processionEvening procession to the Notre-Dame de Capelou chapel
- Air showHeld every year on this date since 1913
- Medieval festival
- Capelou pilgrimage weekNativity of the Virgin and Our Lady of Sorrows; about a thousand pilgrims
Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.
Adapted from Wikipedia (Belvès). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Specialities of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Typical of the region rather than of this village.
- Boudin noir with chestnutsCured meat
Adapted from Wikipedia (Cuisine basque, Cuisine gasconne, Cuisine périgourdine, Cuisine limousine). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to sleep
5 places to stay within 3 km
- Campsites 3
- Hotels 2
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Nearby member villages
- Castelnaud-la-Chapelle · 12 km
- Beynac-et-Cazenac · 13 km
- Monpazier · 14 km
- La Roque-Gageac · 15 km
- Limeuil · 15 km