Visit Brantôme: The Venice of Périgord Vert!

Brantôme
Visit Brantôme: The V ...

Brantôme is a sumptuous flowery village to visit in the Périgord vert . Only 30 minutes from Périgueux, it is a delicious stroll, in the heart of what we call " The Venice of Périgord " , in reference to the river Dronne which surrounds it affectionately. Brantôme has a rich architectural and cultural heritage, like its Benedictine abbey which hides a strange troglodyte ensemble at the foot of a cliff with cavities engraved with a scene from the Last Judgment ... Brantôme is also very good restaurants , a generous weekly market and tourist activities , such as canoe trips, barges , hikes … Follow us to Brantôme, today I am accompanied by Les Promenades d'Alex , a guide who will escort us throughout the city!

Photos of the article © Guide du Périgord

Brantome visit
The Dronne seen from one of Brantôme's 5 bridges

sponsored content

Brantôme, around its Benedictine abbey

We park our vehicle in the large car parks outside the city . Brantôme can be explored on foot or by bike, to be amazed by its beauties and allow yourself to spontaneously rush into one of its alleys ... Alexandre is a guide , today he accompanies me in the Venice of Périgord ( as Raymond Poincaré poetically named it in 1913) with enthusiasm and mischief: he resides there and appreciates the history and the tumult of this small village unlike any other. If you want to discover a village, nothing better than a guide to show you the details invisible to the naked eye of the simple visitor.

Arrival in Brantôme
Arrival in Brantôme, on the left an old mill transformed into a restaurant, you can still see its paddle wheel crossing the bent bridge. On the right, one of the 3 old altarpieces, in the Jardin des moines.

Brantome is a land trodden by mankind for a long time, evidenced by the dolmen of the Pierre Levée, a monument classified megalith which is an ancient burial Neolithic. Nothing too surprising, did you know that the Dordogne is the 10th department that has the largest number of megaliths in France? They are numerous in Périgord Vert, in the nearby Périgord Limousin Natural Park .

 

Jarin des Moines
The Jardin des Moines on the left, in front of the bridge and on the right behind the house are the remains of a quarry, because the building stone of the abbey is quite local!

In the 5th century, pagans and hermits arrived on the banks of the Dronne and spotted shelters under rocks , natural troglodyte shelters , where they went to settle. From this period, there are some curious bas-reliefs that can be admired when visiting the Troglodyte Route of the Abbey of Brantôme . One part represents an imposing and massive figure, who stands with indifference and has then presumably been integrated into a more structured and complex scene by the monks, to represent a scene from the Last Judgment , which then reminds us that we are all equal in the face of death and judgment of the Divine ...


Brantôme Caves
La Grotte de Brantôme, the site was not open, you will have to visit it to see the bas reliefs yourself!

In the 8th century, Benedictine monks also established themselves, and they then set up the Abbey of Brantôme in this green and natural setting where all the raw materials and nourishing elements are at hand! They have the limestone cliff to protect them , the Dronne to water them and irrigate the crops that are installed on the fertile and silty soil . Charlemagne came to deposit there in 769 the relics of Saint-Sicaire (a child martyr) and he consecrated the building . The abbey will be razed twice by the Vikings around the 9th century… It will then pass (and the city with it) many times into the hands of the English , then the French , in a game of power and governance. But if today, we can appreciate Brantôme and the remains of its abbey in its almost original integrity, it is thanks to Abbé Pierre de Bourdeille (known as “ Brantôme ”!), Commendatory of the city in the 16th century , writer, courtier and soldier. It was he who opened the gates of the city to Admiral Coligny and Henri de Navarre , who left to plunder everything: they were so well received that they held the city, its abbey and its occupants in high esteem. From this beautiful religious ensemble, you can today admire the small cloister, the church and the buildings of the monks who are now the Town Hall and the Fernand Desmoulin Museum (painter and illustrator of novels at the beginning of the 20th century, who produced his works, inspired by spiritual experiences).


Brantome
The majestic Brantôme abbey, with the Dronne at its feet. It's Friday, the market is in the city.
Brantome

The Gardens, the 12th century Tour Saint-Roch and the Medici fountain (on the left)

Brantome Brantome
In the background, the Saint-Pierre Church and its 4-storey Romanesque bell tower, which is the oldest in France, dating from the 11th century. Built on the rock 12 meters high. In front, the troglodyte shelters

Brantome

Brantome Brantome Cloister

The cloister of the abbey of Brantôme where one "made the 100 steps"


sponsored content

Brantôme, a visit connected to the past

Brantôme is surrounded by the waves . The historic and medieval old town is surrounded by canals . Why and how? Fortunately, my guide Les Promenade d'Alex is there to explain to me all the ingenuity of the Benedictine monks, them who had once mastered this element to accomplish great things, like here in Brantôme, which is now surrounded by water and accessible thanks to 5 bridges . The canals also make it possible to bring water to the heart of the city, near the abbey to promote trade (and therefore the levying of a tax which enriches the city) and the passage of barges at the time. Today, the Dronne is one of the least polluted rivers in France and to cross it, go canoeing or take a trip in a barge with the Croisières de Brantôme in summer!


Brantôme Coudé Bridge
The elbow bridge over the Dronne
Brantome Brantome
Stroll through the alleys to see hidden treasures, like this magnificent spiral staircase, or this tiny door (hidden on the left). No people weren't smaller in the Middle Ages, but the road was lower!
Eiffel Brantome Bridge House of the Ladies of Good Faith
The Eiffel-style bridge near the Maison des Dames de la Foi, a former convent
Brantome
A former civilian and military hospital

Brantôme is one of the most beautiful villages to visit in the Dordogne , its heritage is exceptional. Narrow streets , beautiful local freestone houses, private gardens separated by canals. Inside the city, we alternate between vestiges of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance . If you don't have a guide with you, explore the city thanks to the explanatory panels placed all over the place.

We wish you a pleasant visit to Brantôme. If you want to take advantage of the weekly market , come on Friday !

Quickly organize your visit with Alex, by going to the information sheet, to the Guide du Périgord


sponsored content

Brantôme market
The Brantôme market which spans the bridge and part of the old town
Brantome Market Brantôme market
The Brantôme food and non-food market. Look up!
Duck
In the restaurants of Brantôme, the duck is on the plate. On the Dronne, the duck is splashing!
Brantome
A facade with magnificent alleys
Brantome Brantome
Stroll through all the small and large alleys of Brantôme!


Did you like our report? Find others on the Guide du Périgord Blog . We also have a Périgord Guide Facebook page , as well as an Instagram account @GuideduPerigord



Back to "Culture and Heritage"

You will also like

The Dordogne in 4 days: The perfect Guide for everyone

The Dordogne in 4 days: The perfect Guide for everyone
The Dordogne in 4 days: The perfect Guide for  ...

Brantôme

Feeling great: in the heart of the venice of the périgord

Feeling great: in the heart of the venice of the périgord
Feeling great: in the heart of the venice of t ...

Brantôme

Discover the Dronne, a crystalline river emblematic of Périgord Vert

Discover the Dronne, a crystalline river emblematic of Périgord Vert
Discover the Dronne, a crystalline river emble ...

6,7 km - Bourdeilles

Visit of Bourdeilles in Périgord Vert: beyond the castles ...

Visit of Bourdeilles in Périgord Vert: beyond the castles ...
Visit of Bourdeilles in Périgord Vert: beyond  ...

6,7 km - Bourdeilles

The Bourdeilles Castle : a surprising site with 2 castles

The Bourdeilles Castle : a surprising site with 2 castles
The Bourdeilles Castle : a surprising site wit ...

6,7 km - Bourdeilles

Events nearby

Alain LLORCA en concert "Mes années GOLD"

Alain LLORCA en concert "Mes années GOLD"
Alain LLORCA en concert "Mes années GOLD"

09/06/2023

Brantôme

Concerts

Vide-greniers

Vide-greniers
Vide-greniers

10/06/2023

Brantôme

Brocantes, Vides greniers

Harmonies colorées à Brantôme

Harmonies colorées à Brantôme
Harmonies colorées à Brantôme

10/06/2023 to 16/06/2023

Brantôme

Expositions

Exposition : Dominique Luneau

Exposition : Dominique Luneau
Exposition : Dominique Luneau

10/06/2023 to 23/06/2023

Brantôme

Expositions

Concert : "Y'a d'la voix"

Concert : "Y'a d'la voix"
Concert : "Y'a d'la voix"

11/06/2023

Brantôme

Concerts

Fête de la musique à Brantôme

Fête de la musique à Brantôme
Fête de la musique à Brantôme

21/06/2023

Brantôme

Musique

Marché de producteurs

Marché de producteurs
Marché de producteurs

27/06/2023

Brantôme

Marchés

Exposition : Caleix

Exposition : Caleix
Exposition : Caleix

01/07/2023 to 07/07/2023

Brantôme

Expositions

Exposition : Agnès Vincensini

Exposition : Agnès Vincensini
Exposition : Agnès Vincensini

01/07/2023 to 07/07/2023

Brantôme

Expositions

Exposition : Pretet

Exposition : Pretet
Exposition : Pretet

15/07/2023 to 28/07/2023

Brantôme

Expositions

You will like also

Brantôme : la Venise du Périgord

Brantôme : la Venise du Périgord
Brantôme : la Venise du Périgord

In the heart of the green and fresh Dronne valley, discover Brantôme. The village is surrounded by the river that ...

Brantôme

Abbaye de Brantôme

Abbaye de Brantôme
Abbaye de Brantôme

The bell tower of the abbey church of Brantôme dates from the 11th century. It is one of the oldest bell towers in ...

72 m - Brantôme

Parcours troglody­tique de l’Abbaye de Brantôme

Parcours troglody­tique de l’Abbaye de Brantôme
Parcours troglody­tique de l’Abbaye de Brantôme

The Benedictine abbey of Brantôme being abandoned since the French Revolution, it is by following the foot of the ...

72 m - Brantôme

Le Musée Fernand Desmoulin - Clocher campanile de Brantôme

Le Musée Fernand Desmoulin - Clocher campanile de Brantôme
Le Musée Fernand Desmoulin - Clocher campanile ...

19th century engraver painter, friend of Zola and Hugo, his complete work is staged in two rooms of the abbey. • ...

102 m - Brantôme

Les Jardins Tranquilles

Les Jardins Tranquilles
Les Jardins Tranquilles

These well-established magnificent gardens have been open to the public for nearly 30 years. Les Jardins Tranquilles ...

1,6 km - Brantôme

Ride around

Chemin de Terre de Harrison Barker en Val de Dronne: De Bourdeilles à Brantome

Chemin de Terre de Harrison Barker en Val de Dronne: De Bourdeilles à Brantome
Chemin de Terre de Harrison Barker en Val de D ...

63 m - Brantôme

Walking

Boucle de l'abbaye de Brantome

Boucle de l'abbaye de Brantome
Boucle de l'abbaye de Brantome

304 m - Brantôme

Walking

Itinérance Equestre au coeur du Périgord Vert Etape 5

Itinérance Equestre au coeur du Périgord Vert Etape 5
Itinérance Equestre au coeur du Périgord Vert  ...

342 m - Brantôme

Horse

Coup de Coeur du Comité de Cyclotourisme Brantôme

Coup de Coeur du Comité de Cyclotourisme Brantôme
Coup de Coeur du Comité de Cyclotourisme Brantôme

419 m - Brantôme

Mountain bike

Autour du cabécou à Puy de Fourches

Autour du cabécou à Puy de Fourches
Autour du cabécou à Puy de Fourches

6,5 km - Brantôme

Walking Mountain bike Horse