Allassac, heart of the Land of Art and History
Allassac is a pleasant medieval town belonging to Gaillard land. The village's charm lies in its heritage, history and historic monuments, which have been preserved for centuries. Allassac has many faces: the banks of the Vézère, the hamlet of Le Saillant shared with Voutezac and the town centre. Something for everyone! Don't miss this visit, one of our top 14.
5 good reasons to visit Allassac
- Take in the view from the Caesar Tour.
- Put your feet in the water at the Saillant bridge.
- Attend a concert at the Vézère Festival.
- Admire Marc Chagall's stained glass windows.
- Take a canoe trip down the Vézère.
The headquarters of the Country of Art and History (PAH) Vézère Slate
The national label of History Vézère Slate was created in 1985 and brings together 47 municipalities in the south-west of the Limousin region. It enables local players to work together on cultural projects by bringing together local authorities, cultural organisations and tourist offices. Workshops, guided tours, events, exhibitions, etc. are organised throughout the year. The team behind the Land of Art and History is very dynamic and inventive.
You can download the Nouvelle-Aquitaine videoguide application to discover the heritage at your own pace. Available on Appstore and Google Play Store.
What to do, to visit in the village of Allassac
The Allassac market
Every Friday morning, come and visit the Allassac market, located in front of the church, to stock up on fresh local produce.
The Caesar Tower
Allassac boasts a number of prestigious historic monuments. You can't pass through the village without climbing to the top of the 5-storey Caesar Tower. This medieval tower, built of local stone in the 13th century, is one of the few round towers from the Middle Ages in the Limousin. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1949, as has the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste (built in the 14th century) since 1914.
A Gaillard anecdote :
Allassac was a fortified town that was never besieged. And the reason? The bishops of Limoges, lords of Allassac, were very clever and came up with the stratagem of paying ransoms to the attackers to avoid being attacked. Clever bastards!
Church and manor house in the village of Allassac
Take a stroll through the narrow streets of the village. Near the Caesar Tower is the Church of Beheading of Saint-Jean-Baptiste dating from the 12th century. It is home to a number of listed objects, including the entire high altar and a beautiful 17th-century Baroque altarpiece inside. It still has its portal and the remains of a tower used for defence.
Visit the Manoir des Tours on the outskirts of the village, an imposing 16th-century building housing the headquarters of the Pays d'Art et Histoire Vézère Ardoise.
Slate
Like Travassac, Allassac has seen its rich slate-making past revived with the reopening of a slate quarry. Les Bugeat slate quarries are once again mining slate on the historic quarry site, a site known since the 12th century.
And why not at home? The quarry also manufactures a wide range of products, including indoor and outdoor paving, building stone, Japanese tiles, building rubble and slate flakes for massifs, etc...
Must-sees near Le Saillant
For walkers, the site of the Mesolithic Rock overlooking the valley has an orientation table offering a wide panorama and an unforgettable viewpoint. Below, you'll find the village of Le Saillant, through which the Vézère flows, with its dam, old bridge and the Saillant castle, whose owner (Isabelle De Lasteyrie du saillant) is the founder of the Festival de la Vézère.
You can also visit a charming chapel with stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall located in the grounds of the château de Lasteyrie (a 19th-century noble house).
Visit the Cave des Coteaux de la Vézère, which groups together a dozen winegrowers and around fifty associated winegrowers. Located in the Saillant d'Allassac, you'll discover a wide variety of AOC-certified wines and their terraced vineyards, which will tell you all about their history.
Things to do on the banks of the Vézère at Garavet d'Allassac
At Garavet (2 km away), as well as swimming and fishing, come and discover the various activities on offer all summer long. Stand-up paddle, archery, tree climbing, concerts: something for everyone!
Practical information
How to get to Allassac
- By car: via D9 and D134
- By car pool: car pool area
- Donzenac - exit 48 "Allassac, Donzenac".
- By train: Allassac station. From Brive-La-Gaillarde, you can come by train. Consult our regularly updated section " Visiting without a car" and download the document.
Where can I park in Allassac?
Allassac has three free car parks:
- De Gaulle car park
- Allègre car park
- Republic car park
You can also stop off in a green setting on the banks of the Vézère at the Camping Car Park on the Plaine de Garavet (fee-paying area).
Around Allassac
In the surrounding area, you can discover the medieval town of Donzenac (6km away), not forgetting a visit to the Pans de Travassac to discover the different facets of slate. Objat (9km away) has a Sunday morning market and an aquatic centre open all year round.
Bon plan Conquering Allassac
You've come to Allassac, you've seen the Caesar Tour, you've overcome your fear of heights to climb to its summit and from up there you've been able to contemplate at your leisure the slate-clad roofs of the old fortified village. Eight centuries later, the massive tower still bears witness to those medieval times. Then, without a moment's hesitation, you crossed the Vézère at the Garavet site. The die was cast. Swimming, canoeing, archery... What a great day!
Rue de la Tour César,
19240 Allassac
05 55 24 08 80 (Brive Agglomération Tourist Office)
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