From the confines of the Libourne region to Périgueux and from Ribérac to Bergerac, the river Isle and its tributaries carve out a singular region mixing deep forests, white cliffs, grassy valleys and water in all its forms. Water rises up from all sides through springs, combes, streams and ponds to feed the Isle. These watercourses cut into the sedimentary plateaus, bringing resources that have been exploited over the centuries (sand, clay, iron ore, limestone) within easy reach.
In this maze of forests (La Double, Barade, Le Landais), the valleys formed the natural communication routes. Thanks to the navigation of the Isle, the improvement of the roads and then the construction of the railway that went up them, the region gradually opened up to the outside world.
The culture of this region, the fruit of more than 500,000 years of history, offers multiple faces, thus interweaving a landscape and rural terroirs, natural spaces, an Occitan world, an architecture of stone and wood, know-how to be rediscovered.
What are the curiosities in this area?
– The ponds and their rammers of the Double and Landais rivers
– The tower of Vésone in Périgueux
– The miraculous springs of La Veyssière at Eyraud-Crempse-Maurens and La Latière at Saint Aulaye.
– The bastides of Saint Louis en l’Isle and of Beauregard and Bassac.
– The markets of Montpon, Mussidan, Villamblard or Saint Astier.
Illustrations :
– Pilgrimage to the miraculous source of the Veyssière on the 1st Sunday of September (© Musée André Voulgre)
– Pond and its pestle at Saint Étienne de Puycorbier in the Double (© Musée André Voulgre)
– The hall of the bastide town of Beauregard and Bassac (© Musée André Voulgre)
– Photo of a lithograph of the county of Périgord in the 18th century with the valley of the Isle in its centre (engraving Petitjean © Musée André Voulgre)