The upper Dordogne gorges
Straddling the departments of Corrèze and Cantal, the upper Dordogne gorges are undoubtedly one of the most remarkable natural areas in the Auvergne and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions. They were carved out by the Dordogne river, which rises in the Sancy massif where two rivers meet: the Dore and the Dogne.
Although the gorges are punctuated by a succession of monumental hydroelectric dams, they reveal a natural environment of the highest order, recognized by UNESCO.
UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve
The upper Dordogne gorges and, more generally, the entire Dordogne basin, have been granted international recognition by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. This distinction highlights a territory that reconciles biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, with the support of research, education and awareness-raising.
The upper Dordogne gorges are home to rare and protected species of flora and fauna, including breeding populations of birds of prey, some of which are migratory: the booted eagle, the red kite and the short-toed eagle are undoubtedly the most representative.
The first of the large dams to be built on the Dordogne, Marèges hydroelectric dam was built in Saint-Pierre and impounded in 1935 after 3 years of construction. Nicknamed the “innovation dam”, Marèges is a concentrate of innovations that have set new standards in the construction of other large dams around the world.
A viewpoint overlooking the dam is accessible from the village of Saint-Pierre.