Curemonte, among the Most Beautiful Villages with three castles

Photogenic but also historic, Curemonte is one of the five Most Beautiful Villages of France in Corrèze.

Located on a ridge line in the extreme south of Corrèze, near Brive and on the edge of the Lot department, Curemonte is one of the many jewels of the Dordogne Valley. It was chosen by the Cardaillac family of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie as a gateway to Limousin. So, push open this door and enter the heart of a medieval village with an unusual rich heritage!

5 good reasons to go to Curemonte

Stroll through the village streets to discover the noble houses from the 14th to the 16th century, the 18th century market hall and the brazier towers (another name for the local sandstone).
Follow the “Around the castles” hiking route or the Curemonte walking routes offered by the Les Clefs de Curemonte association.
Get your hands on Poïz Zéroïk thanks to the geocaching trail “The village of three” by Terra Aventura.
Taste the famous aperitif made by a local producer from dandelion flowers (moderately of course!).
Keep on tasting local dishes at the farmers' markets every Wednesday in summer.

Curemonte or the village of three

The three castles of Curemonte

No, you're not dreaming. There is not one, not two but three castles in Curemonte. And they are still very solid on their supports, as any good self-respecting Guy would say! The oldest is the castle of Saint-Hilaire built by the descendants of Guy de Curemonte, a crusader close to the Viscount of Turenne. It is recognizable by its two square towers as well as its 15th century main building. The second castle is signed by the Plas family and has round towers dating from the 16th century. Finally, the third - which looks like a manor - is the work of the Escaravage family in the 14th century and is located on the site of La Johannie from which it takes its name.

The three churches of Curemonte

A village with three castles must have three churches, all three in the Romanesque style! In the heart of the village, nestles the 12th century Saint-Barthélémy church, recognizable by its bell tower-wall. Outside the village, discover the church of Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Combe, its painted decorations dating from the 12th to the 18th century and its contemporary stained glass windows made by a Japanese master glassmaker. All year round, the building serves as an exhibition space. Finally, open the doors of the Saint-Genest church-museum to admire its 17th century altarpiece and its painted decorations.

The three fountains of Curemonte

Visiting Curemonte cannot end without having taken a look at the last of the three: the three fountains of Fontenelle, Chassang and Valeyre. The one of Chassang would, moreover, have curative virtues while the one of Valeyre would be known to cause pulmonary problems due to its low temperature. Fountain, we might not be drinking your water…

Curemonte at the heart of arts and letters

Colette in Curemonte: from mother to daughter

In 1940, Colette de Jouvenel - daughter of the writer Colette - moved to Château Saint-Hilaire. Her illustrious mother joined her in Corrèze and stayed at the Château des Plas. The two houses were, indeed, acquired by the Jouvenel family during the interwar period.

While the daughter joins the local Resistance, the mother writes part of her autobiography Journal à Rebours before quickly leaving Curemonte.

The young Bel-Gazou remained in the town and in 1944, she was elected to the municipal council as first deputy. She eventually retired from Curemonte in 1949. As you walk through the village, you will inevitably come across the street that bears her name.

Most Beautiful Villages of France and film sets.

In 1996, Curemonte was chosen to host the filming of the TV movie Christmas Orange, television adaptation of the eponymous novel by Michel Peyramaure. The following, The Singles Ball, was also filmed there in 2005.

Pratical information

Where is Curemonte located?

The village of Curemonte is ideally located near two other Most Beautiful Villages of France: Turenne (around 20 km) and Collonges-la-Rouge (12 km). It takes around 30 minutes to travel from Brive.

How to park in Curemonte?

No motorized vehicle may circulate in the village. Paid parking is available at La Cabrolle 24 hours a day: 24 euros for cars and 2 euros for motorhomes.

Tours and hikes in Curemonte

The castles of Saint-Hilaire and Plas can be visited in summer during cultural events. Johannie Castle is not open to the public.
Guided tours of the village are organized in the summer season by the Les Amis de Curemonte association but also by the Dordogne Valley tourist office.
The “Around the castles” hike is a 6,9 km circuit in the heart of Curemonte. The association Les Clefs de Curemonte also offers different walks.

More information from the Dordogne Valley Tourist Office – Collonges-la-Rouge Office. Phone number: 05 65 33 22 00.

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