Everything French Travel Magazine November 2013 | Page 38

Beautiful Villages of the Dordogne
Saint Amand-de-Coly
Saint Amand de Coly is a pretty town in the Southern
Dordogne not far from Montignac.
In the centre of Saint Amand is its fortified church
which is reputed to be the most beautiful fortified
church in the Dordogne. The village is named after
Saint Amand who was a hermit living in a cave in the
hillside in the 6th century.
The abbey church dates back to the 12th century
and next to the church are the abbey remains. In the
14th century the church was converted into a fortress
but despite its additional defences it remains a
beautiful Romanesque church.

Saint Leon – sur - Vezere
Saint Leon-sur-Vezere is in the southern Dordogne
25 km from Sarlat.
The church in St Leon sur Vezere is on the site of an
ancient Gallo-Roman villa and you can see some
traces of this on the side of the church next to the
river.
It is on the pilgrim route that led from the Abbey of
Vezelay in Burgundy and on towards the abbeys at
Cadouin and Saint Avit Senieur.

Saint - Jean - de - Cole
Saint Jean-de-Cole is in the Northern Dordogne near
Thivers.
The village square is flanked on one side by the
Chateau de la Marthonie which was built over a
period of time and represents different design
periods.
On another side of the square is the Romanesque
Byzantine church of St Jean Baptist built in the 12th
century.
The other sides of the square have traditonal
cottage-style houses.

LImmeuil
Limeuil holds a stunning location where the Rivers
Dordogne and Vézère meet. The two rivers are
graced by stoned arched bridges which make an
excellent photo opportunity.
Like many towns and villages of the area this once
fortified town was pillaged by the Vikings and
suffered greatly during the Hundred Year War. You
can still see three of the old fortified gates that stand
testament to the town’s history.
Limeuil is a pretty place to stop for a picnic by the
river and for a wander through the village.

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