Brantôme, a small village on an island in the heart of Périgord, is one of the Dordogne’ s most captivating treasures. With its abbey founded in the 8th century, its narrow streets full of character and its unique troglodyte heritage, it offers a real immersion in medieval history. A spectacular getaway steeped in mystery, just two hours from Bordeaux.
Founded on an island in Périgord
In the heart of a verdant Dordogne valley, Brantôme en Périgord flourishes on its peaceful island. Embraced by the waters of the Dronne, the town is reflected in the meandering river. The five bridges from which it is accessible proudly adorn the passageway with their stone arches.
Strolling through the narrow streets of Brantôme is like walking through a fairytale setting. The murmur of water accompanies the flower-decked facades, immersing visitors in a unique bucolic setting. In fact, this is what earned it the nickname “Venice of the Périgord ” when former President Raymond Poincaré visited in 1913.
The charming Jardin des Moines, accessed via the curious Pont Coudé, the Renaissance Pavilion in the background and the traditional Friday morning market complete this enchanting picture of a place where it’s good to take your time.
An open-air medieval heritage
In Brantôme, every street reveals a fragment of its history. The town’s urban heritage is a harmonious blend of half-timbered houses and 15th- and 17th-century mansions, testimony to an age of prosperity. It’s easy to linger in front of a sculpted detail, an elaborate balcony or a threshold with the patina of the centuries. Even the former Notre-Dame church – once a market hall, now a village hall and home to the Tourist Office – illustrates the village’s ability to bring its past to life without freezing it.
A jewel-box of history protected by a thousand-year-old abbey
It’s impossible not to be captivated by the majestic silhouette of the abbey, which seems to watch over the village. Built at the end of the 8th century, legend has it that Charlemagne founded the abbey, depositing the relics of Saint-Sicaire at its inauguration. Its 11th-century Romanesque bell tower, one of the oldest bell towers in France, is one of its jewels.
But the uniqueness of Brantôme Abbey lies above all in its communion with the overhanging cliff. The cliff is home to other mysteries, guarded by troglodytic caves that bear authentic witness to the lives of the hermit monks of the time. One of these caves , the Grotte du Jugement Dernier, features a 15th-century bas-relief on its walls.