In England, in 1225, the first mention was made of travelling merchants, called peddlers (possibly from the French pied (foot)). They went from village to village, carrying goods that opened the door to dreams. The villages prospered through trade, and some became important market places. In this tour you will find a few more market places.
The roads of the route are of excellent quality, sometimes narrow, and winding, with beautiful views, beautiful villages: a pleasure to drive through here. Moreover, this is a tour that feels like a holiday. There is so much to see along the way.

You drive from Brive-la-Gaillarde to Aubazine, a pretty village to stop in. Perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Corrèze river between Brive and Tulle, Aubazine is a picturesque village with a unique heritage dating back to the 12th century, including a Cistercian abbey, an abbey church and also a canal dug into the hillside by monks. The abbey church is famous for its authentic 12th century stained glass windows. These are not figurative. The church also contains the 13th century tomb of Saint Étienne d'Obazine.

Just after Aubazine you make a short stop at the ruins of Coyroux, the Cistercian nunnery of Aubazine, and drive via beautiful winding roads through a green and hilly landscape to one of the highlights of this route, the village of Collonges. But there is more and that makes it extra special, because all the houses are built with red bricks. It is not without reason that the village has the addition “la Rouge”. Collonges-la-Rouge is on the list of "les plus beaux villages de France" (the most beautiful villages in France). Further along the route you will encounter three more. (see link)

Collonges is full of sights and is also called the village with the 25 towers. Several houses have a monumental status such as the Maison de la Sirène from the 16th century which is now a museum for art and folk traditions. Another old building is the Maison Boutang du Peyrat from the 15th century. Part of the priory, the old court and the old town hall also fall under this status. There are even a few city palaces and the construction of the church started in the 11th century. Around the village you can see the remains of the old defenses with the occasional gate and a tower. You can also see towers on the Castel de Vassinhac, Castel de Maussac and Maison Ramade de Friac and the castle of Benge. The church Saint Pierre with its beautiful decorations is worth a visit.
Also in the village of Meyssac, a little further on, there are many beautiful buildings made of red sandstone to admire.

After a few villages you come to the next "most beautiful" village. Curemonte is steeped in history, built on a rocky spur and offering magnificent views of the surrounding valleys and fields. It was first mentioned in the 11th century and has played an important role as a market town in the region ever since. Like Collonges, Turenne, and St. Amand further on, it is one of the most beautiful villages in France. This medieval gem is the village of 3: three castles, three churches, and three fountains.
The oldest is the castle of Saint-Hilaire, built by the descendants of Guy de Curemonte, a crusader. It is recognizable by its two square towers and its 15th century main building. The second castle is signed by the Plas family and has round towers from the 16th century. Finally, the third, which looks like a manor house, was built by the Escaravage family in the 14th century and is located on the site of La Johannie from which it takes its name. At the heart of the village is the 12th century church of Saint-Barthélémy, recognizable by its bell tower wall. Outside the village, discover the church of Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Combe, its painted decorations from the 12th to the 18th century and its contemporary stained glass windows made by a Japanese master glassmaker. As mentioned, there are also three fountains, Fontenelle, Chassang and Valeyre. The Chassang Fountain is said to have medicinal properties, while the Valeyre Fountain is known for its low temperature which causes lung problems.

Turenne, where you can have a great lunch, also has the title of "most beautiful" village. Today, Turenne is only a small town, with about 750 inhabitants. The town is built on a mountain where a mighty castle once stood. Because Louis XV had the castle destroyed immediately after buying Turenne, there is little left of the once so grand castle. However, the contours are still clearly visible, as are the two most important towers. The highest, the Tour César, is also the oldest. Once built as a watchtower and for communication with towers further away; now you can climb to the top to enjoy a magnificent view over the Dordogne basin. It is especially up there that you get an idea of the grandeur of the county of Turenne: in good weather you can even discover the volcanic peaks of the Cantal, a hundred kilometres away.
Between the two towers, on the foundations of the castle, a quiet French garden has now been created. Around the castle are numerous late medieval houses that give the village a characteristic appearance. Furthermore, you will find remains of fortifications everywhere in the village, there are viewpoints, cellars and two churches. The city gate is also worth a visit.

About seven kilometres from Turenne you will find the Gouffre de la Fage, a special cave, located near the village of Noailles and discovered in the 19th century. Large parts of the cave have now been explored and the various corridors and rooms have been mapped. The cave is known for its beautiful dripstone formations, special corridors and you will find a large colony of bats. When visiting the cave you descend into the cave via a wooden staircase and you can discover the underground world. It is possible to follow a guided tour and all kinds of fun activities are organised for children. You can also visit the cave on your own and you will find all kinds of information boards.

Passing through the Domaine de la Fage, an event castle and the castle of Noailles, you arrive in the village of Chastenaux. The church of Chasteaux, built on a rocky peak, offers an incomparable view of the Lac du Causse from its veranda. With its dominant position, the church is a very interesting example of religious architecture in Corrèze.

The route then continues through the hilly countryside of the Dordogne, where you arrive at Saint-Amand-de-Coly after many winding and narrow roads. A beautiful village, which is also one of the "most beautiful" villages in all of France. Thanks in part to the magnificent location of this village, between two wooded valleys, this village is more than worth a visit. Here you will find (they say) the most beautiful fortified church in the Périgord. Just like the houses in the village, it is built with the famous Salard stone, typical slate roofs of the region, which offer a contrast of ochre and grey tones. Take advantage of the free guided tours of the abbey thanks to the association of the Friends of Saint-Amand de Coly.
The village still has an old hospital for the poor built in the fourteenth century and renovated in the eighteenth century.

After leaving the village the road becomes winding again, but soon you approach the valley of the Vézère at Terrasson-Villiadieu. This village has a beautiful garden complex, which is worth a visit. Beyond the village you can admire Château de la Fraysse in the park.
On the way to Brive you will pass a remarkable French Greek Orthodox monastery. The Monastery of the Transfiguration was founded in 1978. It is an Orthodox nunnery, where the nuns are affiliated with the Simonos-Petra monastery on Mount Athos (Greece). The monastery currently houses six nuns, accompanied by Father Elie, the founder, chaplain and spiritual father of the community. In addition to its primary vocation, the Monastery of the Transfiguration also has a pastoral role in welcoming many Orthodox lay worshippers who attend church services on Sundays and holy days and receive spiritual instruction there.

The end point is approaching. Your last stop is Brive, now a modern market town on the banks of the Corrèze River. In the Middle Ages, the city was one of the most important cities in the Corrèze. Thanks to trade, the city flourished and many beautiful houses, churches and sights were built. The old city center is a must-see and you can walk around for hours through all the charming streets. In addition, it is a bustling city and you can find many restaurants and shops there. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, there is a famous market and you can buy many regional products and delicious truffles. One of the highlights is the collegiate church of Saint Martin, which is known for its special architecture. The Hôtel Labenche, Hôtel de Quinhart and the house Treilhard are also definitely worth a visit.