This exquisite Quercynois village can be found nestling in a small valley under the limestone cliffs of the Causse de Gramat, not far from the town of St-Céré. The exceptionally well preserved houses are grouped round the impressive Romanesque church and there are mini-chateaux and mansions, distinguished by corbels, turrets and mullioned windows, everywhere. This a Plus Beau Village and...
The impressive Chastang dam across the Dordogne river near Servières-le-Château in the Corrèze département is well worth a little d-tour to see. Although not open to the public nowadays due to heightened security, you can walk the 300m /328yds road along the top and appreciate the scale of the enterprise. This hydro-electric dam commissioned in the early 1950s holds back...
The tiny village of Bassignac-le-Haut is located on the southern shoulder of the Dordogne river in the département of the Corrèze. Outside the lovely Romanesque church stands the main reason folks come here – a 16th century carved limestone covered wayside cross. Each side of the shaft is carved with scenes of the life of Christ and is a very...
During the middle ages the Périgord, the Quercy and indeed much of south-west France was the scene of long running conflict between the English and the French culminating in the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453). During the 13th century both sides began to build small fortified towns on a grid plan surrounded by walls with gates and towers. Called Bastides, which...
Quite literally Beaulieu is a beautiful place on the Dordogne river with fine renaissance houses and the magnificent Romanesque abbey church of St-Pierre. It is unsurprisingly one the local Plus Beaux Villages In pre-revolutionary times the town was dominated by the ancient Benedictine Abbey of St-Pierre, although these days only the abbey church remains. Nevertheless, the church is a magnificent...
One of France’s Plus Beaux Villages, or most beautiful villages, Belvès stands on a limestone bluff, south of the Dordogne River and overlooking the Nauze Valley. Viewed from the southwest in the afternoon it is easy to see why it has gained this honour and a walk round the village (details from the Tourist Office, 1 rue des Filhots) will...
Languishing on the lower reaches of the Dordogne river where the peaceful waters head towards the Gironde, Bergerac is at the centre of the Dordogne’s tobacco fields and world famous vineyards such as Montravel and Péchermant The fascinating Old Quarter surrounds the Ancien Port on the right bank of the river and half-timbered 15th and 16th century house can be...
Beynac is arguably one of the most impressive castles in the whole of France. Dating from the middle ages and standing in a commanding position high above the river Dordogne over the pretty village (a Plus Beau Village in fact) of the same name making a visit here doubly worthwhile. The original castle fell into the hands of the redoubtable...
Founded in the 13th century by the Lord of Castelnau (see Castelnau-Bretenoux) as a bastide town, Bretenoux has retained its grid plan, its central square and some of its arcades. Unlike some other bastides, this one has a pleasant, green riverside setting on the main road (D940) between St-Céré and Souillac and provides an excellent base for exploring the area...
Known locally as plain Brive, this is one of the region’s bigger cities and the largest in the Corrèze although not actually the capital. The soubriquet ‘la Gaillarde‘, or in English ‘the Bold’ has been hard earned over the centuries by its citizens who have a reputation of holding out under siege. Located in the valley of the Corrèze river...
One of the greatest general of his age and father of Charlemagne, Carolus Martellus or Charles Martel as he is known today, had a tremendous impact on the history of Western Europe. After the Moors, or Saracens as they were then known, conquered the Iberian peninsula during the 8th Century they expanded into France and reached Poitiers. Charles Martel, the...
The 16th century Château de Losse is located on the right bank of the river Vézère about 5km/3miles south of Montignac on the D706. Access is via a bridge over the dried-up moat through a fortified Gateshouse, said to be the largest in France, leading into a courtyard and elegant Renaissance hall dating from 1576. There is a fine view...
The Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, not to be confused with Castelnaud Château, lies about 2 miles/3km south west of the the interesting bastide village of Bretenoux which shares its name. The red stone castle is a splendid example of the military architecture of the middle ages and stands high above the small village of Prudhomat and the surrounding countryside overlooking the...
Not to be confused with Castelnau-Bretenoux Castle in the nearby Lot département, the Château de Castelnaud about 2 miles (3km) to the south and upstream of Beynac Château, is another splendid edifice constructed during the middle ages. Castelnaud commands the Céou Valley to the south as well as the Dordogne Valley. Having been taken by Simon de Montfort in 1214...
The Château de Montfort dominates the small village of the same name and is close to the meander of the Dordogne river known as the Cingle de Montfort. Perhaps the name is a little misleading as while the medieval warlord Simon de Montfort captured the castle in 1214 he immediately proceeded to pull it down. It was reconstructed only to...
Constructed during the great châteaux building period in 1489 by François de Caumont this delightful Renaissance and Gothic structure was built in order to escape the austere medieval ediface of nearby Castelnaud where the family had lived for generations. Following the Revolution in 1789, Milandes was abandoned and later it was badly damaged in a fire. The splendid gardens were...
Collonges-la-Rouge – literally Collonges the Red – is deservedly one of the Plus Beaux Villages of France. Situated just south east of Brive on the D38 road, this stunningly beautiful place full of red stone manor houses, cottages and a Romanesque church, all rooved in lauzes, takes the breath away. Dating back to the early middle ages the village belonged...
The lovely village of Creysse on the Dordogne River in the Haut Quercy is not actually one of the Plus Beaux Villages but arguably it should be! A pleasant green area with a stream running through it awaits as you enter the village and the old bridge invites you to cross in order to explore the old village with its...
The Bastide of Domme, often called the Acropolis of the Dordogne, is situated on a rocky escarpement above the left bank of the river. Commanding views both upstream and downstream from the Belvédère de la Barre have inspired artists such as the American writer and water-colourist Henry Miller who loved to paint views of the river. Domme was founded in...
Gluges is a very pleasant small village nestling at the foot of the limestone cliffs of the Causse de Martel, on the banks of the River Dordogne just south of the town of Martel. Not on the main tourist trail, Gluges is a very quiet and peaceful village with a nice church and a few houses. There is also a...