Villages of Perigord

The Bishops of Sarlat took

refuge in Issigeac Castle in

times of plague epidemics.

Today the Bishop’s Palace

houses the Tourist Office.

Nicknamed the “Mushroom

House” this half-timbered

fairy-tale house was built

with Mandacou stone.

For those who enjoy copious tasty

food, there’s plenty to choose from: a

new menu at the Café de l’Europe; La

Petite Treille, for instant satisfaction, at

the heart of the market; simple family

cooking at La Brucelière; a cosy halt at

El Borini

(opposite)

facing the Bishop’s

Palace; and delicious traditional cuisine at

Le Relais de l’Ancienne Gare.

Hearty Dishes

Listed Architectural Gems

You may start your tour by the Bishop’s Palace, built around 1160, recognisable

by its stone and brick turrets

(photo above right)

. Opposite, the Maison des Dîmes

where the villagers’ tithes (a tenth of their crops) were collected by the church.

Follow the “Tour de Ville” along the path of the old ramparts. From there you can

observe the Provost Building. This XVIIIth century chartreuse house became the

residence of the “provosts”, as Issigeac’s clergymen were known, after the abbey

was closed. Then visit Saint-Félicien’s Church with great wooden polychrome

statues and stained-glass windows, dating back to the French Restoration of 1871.

As you pass by the Maison des Têtes

(below)

, look up at the grotesque figures

under the windowsills and the lion holding a small animal between his paws at

the angle of the first floor.

24+1 VILLAGES OF PÉRIGORD