Pleaux - Fortified Castles, Romanes Churches & Nice places

Medieval village in High-Auvergne

Fortified Castles, Romanes Churches & Nice places

The region is strewn with fortified castles, many have been reduced to a dungeon or ruins more or less stately that have defied centuries. The booklet of Olivier Bedeau « Châteaux entre Dordogne et Puy Mary » proposes several trips to discover them. These who want to know some more will have to look for the book of Doctor Ribier, « Gentihommières et châteaux de la prévôté de Mauriac ».

Castle of La Vigne, built in 1540 by Louis of Scorailles, the castle of La Vigne is composed of two crenelated towers, flanking to the north a rectangular building with wall walk and a large squared tower. Guided tours from 15th June to 15th September at 14pm to 19pm. Tel.: 04.71.69.00.20

Castel of Burc, near Barriac, the ancient castle of 13th c. has made place in the beginning 19th c. to a vast house that has preserved the two primitive pavilions that flank it to the north and give it the character. No visits.
Castle of Drugeac, main building of 19th c ., flanked with two round towers. One of they contains a chapel of 15th c. with ribbed vault.
Castle of Rilhac-Xaintrie, the castle is built in lava on a rocky spur. It remains a flanked main building with two towers of defence that have kept the loopholes, the machicolation and cellars vaulted. No visits.

Castle of Rilhac-Xaintrie

Ruins of the castle of Branzac, near Loupiac. Internal walls of the castle were decorated with many frescoes and multiples poetical inscriptions, executed by Italian artists. Deserted, these mural decorations, rare in High-Auvergne, have been lost.

Ladies that often admire yourself,
In this mirror admire you have to,
And if common sense you don’t lack,
Your beauty despises;
Ladies that often admire yourself.

Servières le Château, ancient fortified places above gorges of Glane. The ancient castle of families of Turenne and Noailles, long occupied by a small seminary, has been burnt in 1916 and reconstructs.
Tours de Merle, citadel of seven ruined fortified castle built in 12th to 15th century in a imposing site. Spectacle sound and light, 19220 St Geniez O Merle. Tel.: 05.55.28.19.26

Romanes Churches

The book « Eglises romanes de Haute-Auvergne » of Rochemonteix gives precious information on our romanes churches.

Barriac les Bosquets, romane church with « peignes » steeple. This church contained a reliquary box in enamel and a beautiful ceremonial cross of 13th century that are exposed in the church of Pleaux.
Brageac, abbey roman style church, vestige of an ancient monastery built on a rocky spur up to the gorges of the river Auze. Sculptures of the feet and capital of columns are very well preserved (stems of flowers, strapwork, griffon, deer, lions, etc .). The treasure of the church is constituted the bag of holy Till, a reliquary of 16th c. and a wooden statue of St Benoît. The two reliquary busts of St Côme and St Damien, protectors of physicians, attract to Brageac a pilgrimage of the doctors. A booklet describing Brageac and its history is available to the tourist office of Pleaux or in bookstore.
Mauriac, basilica Notre Dame des Miracles, and vestige of the ancient monastery.
Anglards-de-Salers, romane church in Latin influence cross limousine, with arcades and cradle in gothic arch and dome on pendants.
Loupiac, romane church with « peignes » steeple.
Saint-Martin Cantalès, romane church with a magnificent porch.

Nice places

These are peaceful places for relaxation and daydreaming, for those that take the time to breathe this atmosphere of melancholy and to listen the echo of the sounds that reverberate in the solitary depth gorge, unforgettable moments . ..

... in gold of autumn leaves our Estourocs,
rocks that the ivy scallop,
Bridge, coaching inn, enchantment of the vale ...

Chapelle Notre-Dame du Château, at the foot of Saint Christophe les Gorges, in a loop of the Maronne, the chapel is situated alongside a small shady esplanade giving to the site a certain charm.

The Blanchard bridge, it spans the brook of Incon. On these banks, the grassy field is a call to the rest. By following the waterway one meets the ancient mills.
Chapel of Rocher in Enchanet, at the foot of Saint Christophe les Gorges, in a loop of the Maronne, the chapel is situated alongside a small shady esplanade giving to the site a certain charm.
Brageac, near the church built on a rocky spur overlooking gorges of the Auze.
Spontour, hamlet situated in a charming place on the straight bank of the Dordogne.
La Ferrière, charming place on the Dordogne.
Puy of Bouval, to the summit, beside a huge lime, has been placed the statue of the abbot Filiol, born in Bouval and guillotined in Mauriac in 1793. From there, the view look out the Sancy, mounts of the Cantal and the Limousin.