La Jemaye-Ponteyraud is a town in Dordogne, in Aquitaine region Nova, 12 km southwest of Riberac.
It was established in January 1, 2017 following the merger of the Jemaye, its seat (109 inhabitants) and Ponteyraud (44 inhabitants).
The 33 km² constituting its territory are located west of the department, in the heart of the natural region of the Double known for its forest of 500 km² that punctuate bodies of water, between valleys of the Isle and the Dronne.
Although sparsely populated (150 inhabitants) the new joint is a popular tourist destination for its large pond and the leisure that the borders, surrounded by a green environment protected for its ecological wealth.
La Jemaye-Ponteyraud also has a historical heritage highlighted. Enough to justify a pleasant stop or stay "repairer" in Perigord green!
Before you enjoy the forest and pond, some heritage sites deserve to be observed. So is the case of the village of La Jemaye of Saint-Vivien church whose foundations date back to the twelfth century and was rebuilt in the nineteenth. More recently, from 2015 to 2017, a major restoration campaign has, after deleting the portal "west", to make the chorus sound orientation is, as is the Romanesque tradition, and also all the windows were replaced.
In the center of the small village, it is however the hall of the eighteenth century which enjoys protection as historical monuments. It consists of three naves delimited by wooden pillars, covered by a large hipped roof and open on three sides, the fourth has two rooms with fireplaces, the first still with mud walls.
In the village of Ponteyraud, one can discover the castle of the Blérétie, rebuilt in the nineteenth century, consisting of a central main building flanked by pavilions with purely decorative turrets with their conical roof, at the angles by the house and pavilions. The area now houses guest rooms.
However, the jewel in the old town is the parish dedicated to St. Denis elect, listed on the Inventory since 1926, and was the center of a Benedictine women priory of the abbey of Ligueux. If the monastery buildings were destroyed during the Revolution, the church whose oldest parts date back to the twelfth century (gutter of the nave), has retained its picturesque charm. There are the choir and the apse of the thirteenth century and several signs of remodeling. Thus the broken barrel vault was replaced by wooden paneling and a bell tower with wood sides was added.
Place then the "nature" and leisure center the large pond, which covers 200 hectares, and which actually reveals a single network of six lakes connected. Belonging to the county council, the site houses a leisure center which offers beach lifeguard from mid-June to early September, picnic area, children's playground, golf health and sports activities dedicated to youth or adults (baby water skiing, climbing shaft, fishing, archery nature orienteering). Information +33 5 53 90 18 65.
However, facilities and activities are available to enjoy the ecological richness of the set and get to know this wooded area and punctuated with ponds which is the subject of a classification Natura 2000. A bird observatory is located and rare species (otters, mink, crayfish, turtles), which expand particularly in the reed, can be captured when guided walks.
The forest itself is crossed by dedicated circuits that will delight hikers walking enjoying bowl combine walking and oxygen in an exceptional environment.
Maps and information +33 5 53 35 50 24.
