Office de Tourisme Vézère Périgord Noir, Bureau de Terrasson Tourist Offices in Terrasson Lavilledieu

Terrasson is located at the eastern limit of the Dordogne, on the borders of Corrèze, and Limousin. Its old town, built on the hillside, overlooks the Vézère. It is a place of passage and a possibility of crossing the Vézère. Human occupation is attested in prehistoric times, and in Gallo-Roman times "villas" are established in Gaubert, La Boissière, Teyssenat, and below the rocks of Saint-Sour.

The rise occurs in the 6th century with the installation of a monastery around Sorus, name of the local hermit Saint-Sour.

A COUNTRY OF LEGENDS...

Almost 1400 years ago, the Merovingian king Gontrand, warned of the great wisdom of the Sour Monk, visited him and gave him the means to found his abbey. Hence the legend that Saint Sour dropped the doves from his rock, seeing them land in the valley, exclaimed : "terra sunt", an expression which gave birth to the name of Terrasson.

Life is organized around the monastery ; The periods of prosperity alternate with times of war and devastation, for example during the Norman invasion in the 9th century. During the troubled times of the Middle Ages, the families of the counts of Périgord, the viscounts of Turenne and Limousin dominated the region.

During the wars of religion, the church was partially destroyed as well as the Old Bridge. In the 17th century and during the Revolution, Terrasson was important from the commercial and judicial point of view. Terrassonnais Gabriel Bouquier was elected deputy to the Convention.

In the 19th century, a new road going to Brive was built under the rock of Malpas. The Pont Neuf was built between 1825 and 1830 and the railway in 1860.

Terrasson's economic activity developed around the railway and the Périgueux-Brive national road (coal deposits at Lardin, Condat, La Villedieu, Verrerie in Brard ille, and in Terrasson).

The population increases, about 4000 inhabitants in 1900. After the Second World War, industries developed: the Papeteries de Condat, the Paumellerie Électrique factory (closed in 1986-87), SOCAT. The city expands, the districts of Borie Basse and Maraval are being built.