Allassac, heart of the Land of Art and History
Allassac is a pleasant medieval town in the Terres Gaillardes region. 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 César Tower.
- Dip your toes in the water at the Saillant Bridge.
- Go to a concert at the Vézère Festival.
- Enjoy the Allassac Market on Friday mornings
- Go on a canoe trip down the Vézère.
The headquarters of the Vézère Ardoise ‘Pays d’Art et d’Histoire’ (PAH)
The national ‘Pays d’Art et d’Histoire Vézère Ardoise’ scheme was established in 1985 and comprises 49 local authorities. It enables local stakeholders to collaborate on cultural projects by bringing together local authorities, cultural organisations and tourist offices. To this end, workshops, guided tours, events, exhibitions and more are organised throughout the year. The team behind the Pays d’Art et d’Histoire is highly dynamic and inventive.
You can download the Nouvelle-Aquitaine video guide app to explore the heritage at your own pace. Available on the App Store and Google Play Store.
Things to do and see 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 Tour César. 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 cheeky 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!
The church and manor house in the village of Allassac
You can take a stroll through the village’s narrow streets. Near the César Tower stands the Church of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, dating from the 12th century. It houses objects listed as historic monuments, including the entire high altar and a beautiful 17th-century Baroque altarpiece inside. It still features its original portal as well as the remains of a tower that was once used for defence.
The Manoir des Tours, situated on the outskirts of the village, is an imposing 16th-century building and houses the headquarters of the Pays d’Art et Histoire Vézère Ardoise.
Slate
Just like Travassac, Allassac is seeing its rich history of slate mining revived with the reopening of a slate quarry. The slate quarries are once again extracting slate from the historic quarry site, which has been in use since the 12th century.
Why not for your own home? The quarry also produces a wide range of products such as paving slabs for indoor or outdoor use, building stone, stepping stones, rubble stone for building, and slate chips for rockeries…
Must-see sights near Le Saillant
For walkers, the Mesolithic site of La Roche, which overlooks the valley, features an orientation board offering sweeping views and an unforgettable vantage point. Below, you’ll find the village of Le Saillant, through which the Vézère flows, featuring the dam, the old bridge and the Château du Saillant, whose owners (the De Lasteyrie De Comborn family) founded the Festival de la Vézère.
You can also visit a charming chapel with stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall, situated within the grounds of the Château de Lasteyrie (a 19th-century stately home).
Visit the Cave des Coteaux de la Vézère, which brings together around ten winegrowers and some fifty associated vintners. Located in Le Saillant d’Allassac, you’ll discover a fine selection of AOC-certified wines and their terraced vineyards, which will tell you their story.
Things to do on the banks of the Vézère in Garavet:
In Garavet (2 km away), as well as swimming and fishing, come and discover the various activities on offer throughout the summer. Stand-up paddleboarding, archery, tree climbing, concerts: something to suit 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:
- Parking de Gaulle
- Allègre car park
- Parking République
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 Travassac slate quarries to discover the different facets of slate. Objat (9km away) has a Sunday morning market and an aquatic centre open all year round.
Tip Conquering Allassac
You've come to Allassac, you've seen the Tour César, 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)
Our best PoHtes in Allassac
To pick up our brochures and enjoy a warm, friendly welcome from our knowledgeable staff, pop intothe Auberge du Cheval Blanc at 15 Avenue Jean Carriven!
During the summer season, the reception staff at the Tour César join our team and will provide you with all the essential local information!
And if you’re in Le Saillant, pop intothe Epicerie du Saillant on Route de la Plaine.
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