Collonges-la-Rouge
Collonges-la-Rouge is a jewel of medieval streets, castles and fortified towers. Set on limestone soil and close to a red sandstone fault, this atypical village bears witness to a 60-million-year leap in history, from the first geological era to the secondary era. Collonges-La-Rouge naturally features in our top 14 places to visit.
5 good reasons to visit Collonges-la-Rouge
- Discover a truly unusual and surprising village that you won't see anywhere else.
- Admire the sunrise and sunset over the red stone.
- Disconnect and experience an immersive moment in another time.
- Find inspiration as many artists do every year.
- Discover the "50 shades of sandstone" and a different experience every time you visit.
Pioneer of the Most Beautiful Villages in France
Did you know? Collonges was the first village to join the association of the Most Beautiful Villages in France in 1982. It was Charles Ceyrac, former mayor of Collonges-La-Rouge, who founded the association. It is therefore a symbolic place among the 157 villages that have now been awarded the label.
What to do and visit in Collonges
Take a stroll through the village, wandering through the pretty red streets topped with blue slate roofs. It takes around 2 hours to visit and discover the 25 towers that emerge from this cocoon of red sandstone, displaying the wealth and nobility of the ministers of the Viscount of Turenne who lived in Collonges between the 15th and 16th centuries.
The must-sees in the village
There are a number of outstanding heritage features in the village that make it a great place to explore:
- Saint-Pierre church and its Romanesque bell tower,
- the chapel of the Black Penitents dating from the 14th century,
- the Mermaid House, a listed historic monument, and
- the Vassinhac castel, which belonged to the family of the same name, governor of the Viscount of Turenne.
Things to do in the area
There are a number of other villages to discover in the surrounding area. Among them is Curemonte, 12km away, where you can visit one of the oldest churches in the Corrèze: the Romanesque church of Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Combe, and other monuments steeped in history. You can also visit the Quatre Demoiselles Walnut Museum in Saillac (6km away), and the Neanderthal Museum in La Chapelle-aux-Saints (14km away).
What about having a horseback ride ? It is possible at the Ranch de Chadenac in Chauffour-sur-Vell (8km away).
For the more adventurous among you, you can discover Collonges and the surrounding villages from the air with Corrèze Montgolfière, accompanied by Frédéric, the pilot. For more information, click here.
The Théâtrales de Collonges
If you choose to visit the village in summer, you'll have the opportunity to attend the Théâtrales de Collonges. Created in 1991, this association represents the theatrical arts and every year, from July to August, offers evenings dedicated to theatre in an atmosphere much appreciated by Collonge locals and summer visitors.
Why is Collonges red?
The main feature of the village of Collonges is the colour of its stones. In fact, they are red, which makes you wonder about their maintenance. Well, they don't need any maintenance, because this colour is totally natural and is due to the geological fault that links the Brive basin to Meyssac, which separates the red sandstone from the limestone.
This sandstone is in fact composed of a greater quantity of iron oxide, which gives it its original reddish colour. There are just a few villages built from this stone: Meyssac (2km away), Noailhac (5km away), Lagleygeolle (8km away), Louignac and Vars-sur-Roseix (25km away)...
Eating out in Collonges-La Rouge
We have selected some good addresses for you: restaurants offering local, quality produce.
Staying in Collonges-La-Rouge
Whether you prefer camping, bed and breakfast or rental accommodation, we have selected accommodation in the village or more quietly a few kilometres away...
Practical information
How do I get to Collonges?
Collonges is located in the heart of the Causse corrézien and is therefore easily accessible. You can get there by car from the A20 or A89 motorways, taking exit 52 towards Noailles-Collonges-la-Rouge. By train, the nearest station to Collonges is Turenne (about 6km away).
Coming without a car?
From Brive-La-Gaillarde, you can come by bus. See our regularly updated section " Visiting without a car" and download the document.
Where can I park in Collonges?
It is forbidden to circulate within the village other than on foot. It is therefore important to plan ahead when parking your vehicle.
Fortunately, there are car parks for visitors: there are two of them, and they are subject to a charge from mid-March to mid-November.
A little further afield, you can park your vehicle free of charge in two car parks located on the Place du Marchadial next to the motorhome service area.
For people with reduced mobility, Collonges has three dedicated parking spaces located on either side of the village (at the top of the village, opposite the town hall and next to the wash-house).
- Our little piece of advice:
Visiting this village out of season will allow you to stroll through the narrow streets without the crowds of tourists and be totally immersed in the heart of this unusual place.
There are public toilets in Collonges, on rue de la Garde next to the church of Saint-Pierre, and along the D38 at the old tramway station.
To plan ahead, most shops accept cash only and there are no cash dispensers in Collonges. The nearest one is in Meyssac.
Bon plan Under the spell of Collonges-La-Rouge
In Collonges-la-Rouge, you see red, but you never get angry. Quite the opposite, in fact. You'll quickly fall under the spell of the red stones of this medieval village, listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. There's blue too, on the slate roofs. In the evening, order a Limousin-style meat, rare or blue, at the restaurant.
Collonges-la-Rouge,
19500 Collonges-la-Rouge
05 55 24 08 80 (Brive Agglomération Tourist Office)
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