The Vézère Ardoise: Ségur-le-Château

Located in a loop of the Auvézère.

Located in a loop of the Auvézère, Ségur-le-Château is, as its name suggests, a secure place, that was chosen by the 9^th century feudal Viscounts of Limoges to build a castle. The city of Ségur remained the seat of the Viscounts of Limoges for six hundred years. Though Ségur never was the actual capital of the Viscount the lords resided here regularly, attracting families of knights-vassals and a number of officers.

Beautiful group of 15th century half-timbered houses.

During the Hundred Years War, the fortress of Ségur was occupied by the English between 1361 and 1374, then confiscated by the king of France it became a royal stronghold. At the junction of the County of Périgord and the Viscounty of Limoges, the headquarters for the Court of Appeals was installed, rendering justice over hundreds of lordships of the Périgord and Limousin.

Restauration during the off-season.

This Court of Appeals functioned as a first appeal between the ordinary seigniorial justices and the Royal Parliament of Bordeaux. This explains the large number of quality noble houses and hotels dating back to the 15^th and 16^th centuries in this out of the way corner that today seems to be located in the middle of no where. In 1750 the Court of Appeals was suppressed by an edict of the king and the bourgeois families left Ségur little by little. In 1795, the castle was bought by Hautefort.

Map of Ségur-le-Château.

The ruins of the castle (1) and its outer walls overlook the scene. The place and rue des Claux’s beautiful group of 15^th century half-timbered houses (2), exquisite mullioned windows (stone window bays with crosspieces), a small alley taking you up to a group of 15^th century sculptures adorning the Saint Anne well (3).

Alley taking you up to the Saint Anne well.

A bridge connects to the Place du champ de foire (4) from where you can explore the Place Jean de l’Aigle (5). With its 15^th century former presbytery with a cork screw staircase in the tower, on the left in the impasse you find another ancient manor with tower. Walk to the church or pass the 15^th century Maison des Appeaux (6) on your way back. A small pedestrian bridge will help you cross the river to the main road for splendid views on your way back.

Bridge next to the watermill.

Cross the Place des Claux and find another bridge next to the watermill leading to the circular flamboyant Gothic styled Saint-Laurent tower (7) with its mullioned windows (15^th century). On the other side of the road a hotel adorned with a square tower from the same era (8). A little walk takes you to the Domaine du Chédal (9) dating from the 17/18^th centuries with a large landscaped park labeled jardin remarquable (visits only in group and by appointment during summer). Find out more about the landscape, history, vegetation, the villages and life on the causse:

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