Brantôme
Périgueux
Bourdeilles
St Jean de Côle
Villars

Located 27 km north of Perigueux, Brantome is surrounded by the Dronne River. The main draw for travelers is its ancient riverside gardens and the 8th-century abbey, now serving as the Hotel de Ville, that dominates the town s landscape.

Surrounded by a loop in the river Dronne some 27kms north of Périgueux, the little town of Brantôme with its 2000 inhabitants is referred to as "the Venice of the Périgord". The towns pride is its Benedictine abbey which dates back to 769 or 786. Charlemagne is said to have donated to the brand new monastery, relics of Saint Sicaire, one of the victims of the massacre of the Holy Innocent. Devastated by the Vikings a few years later, it was rebuilt towards the end of the tenth century. The town and the abbey developed thereafter. It was here that Du Guesclin. who had come to see off the English, learned that he had been made High Constable. From 1538, the Abbot of Brantôme, Pierre de Mareuil, had a number of structures built, including a right angled bridge over the river, an elegant Renaissance house and several resting places in the Monks garden. His nephew who succeeded him, Pierre de Bourdeille, is more well known under the name of Brantôme. The abbey was conferred upon him in 1557. On his death. in 1614, Brantôme Abbey had become the most prosperous in Aquitaine, although it was soon to decline. During the Revolution, its rich library and the last seven monks were dispersed.
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Links :
The Site of Brantôme
Festivities (direct link)
The abbey of Brantôme
Brantôme Canöes

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Located at 24 km of Brantôme, PERIGUEUX, is a town of south-western France, formerly capital of the old province of Perigord, now chief town of the department of Dordogne, 79 m. E.N.E. of Bordeaux, on the railway between that city and Limoges. The town, situated on an eminence on the right bank of the Isle, is divided into three parts. On the slope of the hill is the medieval town, bordered south-east by the river and on the other three sides by esplanades and promenades; to the west is the modern town, which stretches to the station; to the south of the modern town is the old Roman town or cite, now traversed by the railway.

Périgueux's past and present is written along the streets, the quarters, the walls of the town, where the past lies in ambush to surprise the breaking day, and the mood of the strollers. The identity of the town mainly relies on History's legacy; moreover, successive urban entities have been juxtaposed century after century, so that today one can move in time and space simultaneously.

The history of the city of Périgueux began when four Celtic tribes merged to become the Petrucores. They settled on the hills overlooking the river (l’Isle) until they were overpowered by the Romans.
The Gallo-Roman remains show how magnificent the town would have been in the 1st and 2nd centuries, the Romans having built in the valley Vesunna, an imposing city (between 15 and 20000 inhabitants), which, in the 3rd century, was enclosed by a defensive surrounding wall.
In the 4th century, Vesunna which was but a small town was named after its people “Civitas Petrocoriorum”. The town was no longer prosperous during the Dark Ages. In the 9th century, it withstood the attacks of the Normans several times thanks to its thick defensive surrounding wall.
From the 10th century on, the birth of another town gave new impetus to the valley. As a matter of fact, a chapel and a monastery were built outside the walls were the tomb of the apostle of the Périgord, whose name was Saint-Front, had been erected and which attracted a lot of pilgrims.

www.best-of-perigord.tm.fr

Splendid small village located at 8 km of Brantôme, built around a medieval fortress, which is one of the four baronnies of Périgord.

Classified as National Historic Monuments, the fortress and chateau are the centre-pieces of the small town of Bourdeilles.

This listed 15th century chateau, with four towers, is one of the most attractive in the Dordogne. It has a magical setting on the river in a peaceful pretty historic village.

Approaching the Château, you may recognise the majestic towers. You have seen them before in your dreams, or maybe in fairytales, where courtly knights do battle with fierce and fiery dragons.

Pass through the iron gates into a place where history mingles with myth and legend, and where for one timeless week or two, you can be immersed in living history. We are the oldest bar one listed 'House of the Senechal' out of ten in the whole of France, and the oldest you can stay in. The King appointed the Senechal, and ours was the Governor of the Barony of Perigord.

The chateau has well-established gardens, sheltered and in full view of the river

The chateau's interior is gracious and elegant, with an aura of comfort and ancient charm. There is a magnificent panelled banquet room, which has a grand table seating 20 (with extensions). There is a comfortable main salon with a high ceiling, and attractive paintings and tapestries on the walls. From the hallway is a superb, polished spiral walnut staircase, leading up to large, traditionally-decorated bedrooms. There are exceptional views from nearly every window; this is a truly peaceful place for a relaxing holiday.

Links
The Site of Bourdeilles

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Located at 19 km of Brantôme The village of SAINT JEAN DE COLE in "green Perigord" is a verdant treasure of history, sweetness and serenity. It owned the title of "finest roofs in France" and is renowned as one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Considered an ancient monument and situated in the very heart of the village, the castle majestically dominates the lovely St Jean Square.
For the past 20 years, SAINT JEAN DE COLE has been organizing this great floral week-end which attracts several visitors from all over the world.
www.ville-saint-jean-de-cole.fr

 

Located at 12 km of Brantôme, you will discover three sites:

• The château is situated 800m from the village of Villars. It was built during the First Renaissance and is as fine an example of a François 1st château as any to be found in the Loire Valley.
  http://www.semitour.com/pages.php?p=Accueil/Start
  
  
• The Cave of Villars is of small size, but one absolutely finds there all the repertory of the large caves of Périgord Noir. She was discovered in 1953 by the spéléo-club of Périgueux.
  
  
• And vestiges of the Cistercian abbey of boschaud.

Bonds :
The Castle of Puyguilhem
Visit the caves
The abbey of boschaud

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The photographs present in this page were taken on Internet sites, please find the links below the comments.