Saint Robert, one of the most beautiful villages in France
A medieval town par excellence, the village of St-Robert knows how to play all its trump cards to charm: it's one of the 'pluses' of being listed as the Most Beautiful Village in France. And it features in our top 14 places to visit.
St-Robert: a hardy and responsible destination
- Discover an authentic village full of character classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France
- Enjoy one of the most beautiful views in the Yssandonnais.
- Take part in the many local festivals (Baco festival, 15 August votive festival, festive markets with small shops and local producers).
- Discover the oldest classical music festival in the Limousin.
- Spoil sickly children at the miraculous Saint-Maurice fountain.
Who was Saint Robert?
Robert de Turlande (1001-1067) took holy orders at the age of 25. He later became a hermit, then an itinerant preacher, healing the sick. In 1050, he founded the abbey of La Chaise Dieu in Haute-Loire. He initiated the construction of more than 50 churches and priories. His feast day is 30 April.
The heritage of St-Robert
Notre-Dame church:
This church dates back to the 12th century but has been deprived of its nave (destroyed in the 16th century), which stood on what is now the village square. Note the presence of a beautifully crafted 13th-century Christ statue. A classical music festival(L'Eté musical de Saint-Robert) is held here every summer.
The history of St-Robert
This thousand-year-old village in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region owes its origins to the Benedictine monks, disciples of Robert de Turlande, who built a priory on this site in 1122. Initially called Murel (the name of the limestone plateau on which it was situated), then Mont Bel Air during the French Revolution, the village was renamed Saint-Robert in 1795. All that remains of the priory is the present-day church, which was restored at the end of the 19th century.
Situated in Corrèze, but on the border with the Dordogne, Saint-Robert was a strategic stronghold blocking the passage to Périgord and suffered during the Wars of Religion. In the 14th century, the church was equipped with square towers pierced with loopholes, and an octagonal lantern tower (watchtower). As the village's defensive centre, the building suffered from the fighting between Protestants and Catholics during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century, as well as clashes during the Fronde in the 17th century.
Castles in Saint-Robert
A number of noble houses can be seen as you stroll through the old streets. Some even bear the name of castels : Château Beauroire, Château de Verneuil (with its very pretty chapel) or Château d'Aragon belonging to the Noailles family.
Stalls
The buildings of Saint-Robert have preserved traces of their medieval past. Numerous remains of shops can be seen on some of the facades.
The panorama
Saint-Robert is situated at an altitude of 350 metres, on a limestone plateau that opens out onto a vast panorama, where you can see the hamlet of Saint-Maurice and the valley, then to the east the market town of Ayen and the plain of Brive. Make your way to the back of the church to enjoy the view.
The miraculous Saint-Maurice fountain
Did you know that there is a miraculous fountain just around the corner? Legend has it that it cures sick and stunted children. You can see it at a place called Saint-Maurice just before entering the village. In the past, many pilgrims came to this fountain every 15 August.
Practical information
- Once you're in the area, don't hesitate to visit one of our PoHTes (Tourist Hospitality Points), which will be happy to tell you all about the best deals. (Chez Sonia and the post office).
- Anecdote: The soap opera "Des Grives aux loups", based on the work of Claude Michelet, was filmed in the village in 1983. It's an ideal film if you want to learn all about the evolution of rural life in the 20th century.
- Make the most of the village's many festivals: the Baco festival in October, the votive festival on 15 August and the festive markets on Friday evenings in July and August.
Bon plan Saint-Robert, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France
Open your eyes and ears wide: Saint-Robert is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. Its assets include old stately homes, narrow streets, the remains of fortified gates and even a miraculous fountain. But it's also the setting for a classical music festival, the first of its kind in the Limousin, which welcomes France's leading orchestras every year. The church of Notre-Dame, with its perfect acoustics, gives their notes all the impetus they could wish for. To your music stands, gentlemen...
Village of Saint-Robert,
19310 Saint-Robert
05 55 24 08 80 (Brive Agglomération Tourist Office)
Les PoHtes de St-Robert
- Chez Sonia, Epicerie/Bar, place de la Prévôté 05 55 85 25 95
- L'Agence Postale, Saint-Robert town hall Place de l'Eglise 19310 Saint-Robert
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