Curemonte, the most beautiful village with three castles

Photogenic and historic, Curemonte is one of the five Most Beautiful Villages in France in the Corrèze.

Situated on a ridge in the far south of Corrèze, close to Brive and on the border with the Lot département, Curemonte is one of the many jewels in the Dordogne Valley. It was chosen by the Cardaillac family of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie as the gateway to the Limousin. So push open this door and enter the heart of a medieval village with an uncommon wealth of heritage!

5 good reasons to visit Curemonte

Stroll through the narrow streets of the village to discover the 14th-16th century noble houses, the 18th century market hall and the brazier towers (another name for the local sandstone).
Follow the "Around the castles" hiking trail or the local walks offered by the association Les Clefs de Curemonte.
Get your hands on the Poïz Zéroïk thanks to Terra Aventura's "The village of three" geocaching trail.
Taste the famous aperitif made by a local producer from dandelion flowers (in moderation, of course!).
Continue tasting local dishes at the farmers' markets held every Wednesday in summer.

Curemonte or the village of three

The three castles of Curemonte

No, you're not dreaming. There are not one, not two, but three castles in Curemonte. And they're still standing strong on their foundations, as any self-respecting Gaillard would say! The oldest is the castle of Saint-Hilaire, built by the descendants of Guy de Curemonte, a crusader close to the Viscount de Turenne. It can be recognised by its two square towers and its 15th century main building. The second castle was built by the Plas family and features round towers dating from the 16th century. Finally, the third - which looks like a manor house - was built by the Escaravage family in the 14th century and stands on the site of La Johannie, from which it takes its name.

The three churches of Curemonte

A village with three castles is bound to have three churches, and all three in the Romanesque style! The 12th-century church of Saint-Barthélémy, with its distinctive bell tower, nestles in the heart of the village. Outside the village, discover the church of Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Combe, with its painted decorations dating from the 12th to 18th centuries and its contemporary stained-glass windows created by a Japanese master glass artist. The building is used as an exhibition space throughout the year. Finally, push open the doors of the Saint-Genest church-museum to admire its 17th-century altarpiece and painted decor.

The three fountains of Curemonte

No visit to Curemonte is complete without a look at the last of the three fountains: Fontenelle, Chassang and Valeyre. The Chassang fountain is said to have healing properties, while the Valeyre fountain is reputed to cause lung problems due to its low temperature. Fountain, we may not drink your water...

Curemonte at the heart of arts and letters

Colette in Curemonte: from mother to daughter

In 1940, Colette de Jouvenel - daughter of the writer Colette - took up residence at castle of Saint-Hilaire. Her illustrious mother joined her in Corrèze and stayed at castel des Plas. Both houses had been acquired by the Jouvenel family between the wars.

While the daughter joined the local Resistance, the mother wrote part of her autobiography, Journal à Rebours, before quickly leaving Curemonte.

The young Bel-Gazou remained in the commune and in 1944 she was elected to the Municipal Council as first deputy mayor. She eventually retired from Curemonte in 1949. If you take a walk through the village, you're bound to come across the street that bears her name.

Most Beautiful Villages in France and film sets.

In 1996, Curemonte was chosen to host the filming of the TV movie Christmas Orange, a television adaptation of Michel Peyramaure's novel of the same name. The sequel, The Singles Ball, was also filmed here in 2005.

Practical information

Where is Curemonte?

The village of Curemonte is ideally situated close to two other Most Beautiful Villages in France: Turenne (around 20 km) and Collonges-la-Rouge (12 km). The journey from Brive takes around 30 minutes.

How do I park in Curemonte?

No motorised vehicles are allowed in the village. Paid parking is available for cars and motorhomes at La Cabrolle.

Visits and walks in Curemonte

The castles of Saint-Hilaire and Plas can be visited in summer during cultural events. Johannie castle is not open to the public.
Guided tours of the village are organised during the summer by the association Les Amis de Curemonte and the Dordogne Valley Tourist Office.
The "Around the castles" walk is a 6.9 km circuit right through the heart of Curemonte. The association Les Clefs de Curemonte also offers various walks.

Further information from the Dordogne Valley Tourist Office - Collonges-la-Rouge Office. Tel: 05 65 33 22 00.

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