Ségur-le-Château, noble medieval and judicial city
Yes, another village classified among the Most Beautiful Villages in France and therefore a site not far from our Terre Gaillarde !
Discover a place between stones and water, where as soon as you arrive you are greeted by the flow of the Auvézère river winding through the middle of the village. It is with wide eyes that you visit this place with its remains of the castle perched on a rocky spur. “Ségur” means “ safe place » and it is without doubt that the “robins”, that is to say the people of the robes of the time, did everything possible to make this place a stronghold. And they didn't stop there since they built two bridges in the 13th century to enlarge the village and be able to pass from one bank to the other of the loop that forms the Auvézère!
5 good reasons to go to Ségur-le-Château
- Discover the village punctuated with historical interpretation panels created by the Pays d’Art et d’Histoire Vézère Slate and the Friends of Ségur association.
- Admire the church with its contemporary stained glass window by the artist Vincent Corpet representing the torture of Saint Léger - the patron saint of the town - and its very expressive Christ.
- Take part in the painters’ day and its major painting competition “Street painters are partying” in mid-August. Unleash the artist in you!
- Attend the black-bottom pig festival - a very tasty local species of pork, you got our Gaillard word! - Every year on the first Sunday of August.
- Treat yourself to the country farmers' markets every Monday during the summer season.
Ségur-le-Château, rich in its historical heritage
Stronghold of the Viscounty of Limoges
It all began in the 9th century with the establishment of the first viscount's house by the Duke of Aquitaine in order to face the invasions of the Norman people. It was at this same time that the castle was built, the remains of which you can admire today.
In the following century, Guy, the son of the first Viscount of Limoges, married lady Emma, daughter of the Viscount of Ségur. Ségur is then attached to the Viscounty of Limoges and becomes in a way “the place to be” in the same way as Comborn, Ventadour and Turenne, the four other viscounties of Bas Limousin.
A royal court of justice
Here again we are Gaillard because from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century, we would discuss against local and seignorial court decisions before they were eventually brought before the royal Parliament! This is what we call the Court of Appeals, the equivalent of our current courts of appeal. Thanks to this privileged status, Ségur quickly transformed into a prosperous city where magistrates, lawyers, notaries and other noble people met.
A village with remarkable residences
Strolling through Ségur, you will be surprised by the large number of prestigious and historic residences that populate its streets. The Saint-Laurent tower house or the Guet tower and Henri IV houses are fine examples. Made up of turrets, half-timbering, spiral staircases and monumental chimneys, they are a legacy of the town's rich judicial past.
And if you continue your walk by climbing to the remains of the castle, you will be able to discover the remains of the dungeon and the Notre-Dame chapel but also a Renaissance house.
What to see around Ségur-le-Château?
Ségur is ideally located close to other remarkable places. Why not take the opportunity to discover them too?
- Le National Stud Farm of Pompadour.
- The castle ofHautefort.
- Saint-Robert, also classified as part of the Most Beautiful Villages of France.
Pratical information
Where is Ségur-le-Château located?
The village of Ségur is located on the borders of Dordogne and Haute-Vienne, less than 50 km from Brive, on the road to Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche. It takes about 55 minutes to drive from Brive.
Welcome by the team of the Pays de St-Yrieix Tourist Office
In the summer season, many activities are offered to you such as guided tours, nighttime and dramatized walks or even exhibitions. It is also possible to follow a video guided tour on the heritage of Ségur.
More information: Intercommunal Tourist Office of the Pays de Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche - 58 Bd de l'Hôtel de Ville - 87500 Saint-Yrieix - 05 55 08 20 72
Share this article
Or share the link
You will also like...
