Collonges-la-Rouge
Encyclopedia
Collonges-la-Rouge is a commune
in the Corrèze
department in the Limousin
region
of France.
founded a priory
in the eighth century which attracted a population of peasants, craftsmen and tradesmen who lived and prospered around its fortified walls. The welcoming of pilgrims for Compostelle through Rocamadour
was a lasting source of profit. In 1308, the viscount
of Turenne granted the village a right to high, medium and low jurisdiction, permitting it to govern the birth of lineages of prosecutors, lawyers and notaries. The enclosure soon became too small to contain the entire population, and faubourg
s were created. Following the french wars of religion
, the reconstruction of the nobility's fortune coincided with the viscount
y's rise in power.
After selling the viscounty in 1738, and after the French Revolution
which caused the destruction of the priory buildings, the village regained a short-lasting prosperity at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Later on, its population slowly decreased and the village was transformed into a stone quarry
.
In the beginning of the twentieth century, some villagers created the association Les Amis de Collonges ("the friends of Collonges") and eventually obtained the classification of the entire village as a historical monument
in 1942.
, its existence is proven since the eighth century thanks to the donation of the count of Limoges
of the parish
to the monastery
of Charroux
.
The village is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
association ("The most beautiful villages of France"), and is actually where this association was created. Its one of the most visited sites in the Limousin
.
.
Rue de la Barrière (Barrière Street):
The Poignet house has a 17th-century window listed as a historical monument.
The Salvant et Vallat house is also a historical monument.
.
(one of the oldest of the Limousin region), was fortified during the sixteenth century French wars of religion
. Its remarkable gates are decorated with a 12th century tympanum
carved in white stone (contrasting with the red stone of the rest of the village), representing the ascension of Christ
dominating his mother and the 11 apostles. It was hidden during the wars of religion and only replaced in 1923.
The main altar
, painted in blue and gold, is composed of a nineteenth-century altar, a partly seventeenth century tier, an eighteenth-century tabernacle
, and an altarpiece
reconstructed in the 19th century with elements two centuries older. It was listed as a national treasure and restored in 1984-1985.
The altar (wooden and painted in gold) of the southern chapel represents the Passion and dates back to the end of the 17th century. It is also listed as a historical monument.
The wooden fence of the chapel, with a central turnstile, dating back around the turn of the 18th century, is decorated with coquilles, volute
s and sculpted acanthus
leaves. It is listed.
The 16th century wooden statue of Christ, was discovered in 1971. It is a historical monument, with two other statues of the Virgin Mary, respectively 17th and/or 18 centuries.
A wooden Christ on the cross dates back to the 17th century, and is listed.
The whole church is a historical monument since April 4, 1905.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Corrèze
Corrèze
Corrèze is a department in south central France, named after the Corrèze River.The inhabitants of the department are called Corréziens or Corréziennes according to gender.-History:...
department in the Limousin
Limousin (région)
Limousin is one of the 27 regions of France. It is composed of three départements: Corrèze, Creuse and the Haute-Vienne.Situated largely in the Massif Central, as of January 1st 2008, the Limousin comprised 740,743 inhabitants on nearly 17 000 km2, making it the second least populated region of...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of France.
History
The monks of Charroux AbbeyCharroux Abbey
Charroux Abbey , is a ruined monastery in Charroux, in the Vienne department of Poitou-Charentes, western France.-History:Charroux was a Benedictine abbey, founded in 785 by Roger, Count of Limoges. It had up to 213 affiliated abbeys and priories. The Council of Charroux was held at the abbey in 989...
founded a priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
in the eighth century which attracted a population of peasants, craftsmen and tradesmen who lived and prospered around its fortified walls. The welcoming of pilgrims for Compostelle through Rocamadour
Rocamadour
Rocamadour is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France. It lies in the former province of Quercy.Rocamadour has attracted visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne, and especially for its historical monuments and its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin...
was a lasting source of profit. In 1308, the viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
of Turenne granted the village a right to high, medium and low jurisdiction, permitting it to govern the birth of lineages of prosecutors, lawyers and notaries. The enclosure soon became too small to contain the entire population, and faubourg
Faubourg
Faubourg is an ancient French term approximating "suburb" . The earliest form is Forsbourg, derived from Latin foris, 'out of', and Vulgar Latin burgum, 'town' or 'fortress'...
s were created. Following the french wars of religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
, the reconstruction of the nobility's fortune coincided with the viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
y's rise in power.
After selling the viscounty in 1738, and after the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
which caused the destruction of the priory buildings, the village regained a short-lasting prosperity at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Later on, its population slowly decreased and the village was transformed into a stone quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
.
In the beginning of the twentieth century, some villagers created the association Les Amis de Collonges ("the friends of Collonges") and eventually obtained the classification of the entire village as a historical monument
Monument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
in 1942.
Population
Its inhabitants are called Collongeois.Sights
Collonges-la-Rouge is entirely built with red sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, its existence is proven since the eighth century thanks to the donation of the count of Limoges
Limoges
Limoges |Limousin]] dialect of Occitan) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin région in west-central France....
of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
to the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Charroux
Charroux Abbey
Charroux Abbey , is a ruined monastery in Charroux, in the Vienne department of Poitou-Charentes, western France.-History:Charroux was a Benedictine abbey, founded in 785 by Roger, Count of Limoges. It had up to 213 affiliated abbeys and priories. The Council of Charroux was held at the abbey in 989...
.
The village is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France is an independent association, created in 1982, which aims to promote assets of small and picturesque French villages of quality heritage...
association ("The most beautiful villages of France"), and is actually where this association was created. Its one of the most visited sites in the Limousin
Limousin (région)
Limousin is one of the 27 regions of France. It is composed of three départements: Corrèze, Creuse and the Haute-Vienne.Situated largely in the Massif Central, as of January 1st 2008, the Limousin comprised 740,743 inhabitants on nearly 17 000 km2, making it the second least populated region of...
.
Civil architecture
The marketplaces date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, and the covered passage is listed as a historical monumentMonument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
.
Houses
- The Maison de la Sirène, possesses a vaulted porch and dates back to the 16th century. It belonged to Henry de Jouvenel, on of famous french writer ColetteColetteColette was the surname of the French novelist and performer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette . She is best known for her novel Gigi, upon which Lerner and Loewe based the stage and film musical comedies of the same title.-Early life and marriage:Colette was born to retired military officer Jules-Joseph...
's husbands. It is listed as a historical monument. A 3 franc postage stamp representing the Maison de la Sirène was issued on July 3, 1982 ; - the priory, build in the 16th century, is a historical monument since July 4rth 1951 for its facadeFacadeA facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
with balcony and its roof ; - the ancient sisters' house, built in the 16th century, is a historical monument since July 4rth 1951.
Rue de la Barrière (Barrière Street):
- The sixteenth-century Bonyt house is a historical monument for its facade, roof and spiral staircase ;
- the Boutang du Peyrat house, with parts of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, is a historical monument. The protected elements are a window with preserved Louis XIII woodwork, a 17th-century entrance door, a wooden chimney, its facade and roof ;
- the sixteenth-century Julliot house is a historical monument for its facade, roof and entrance stairs ;
- the Dey house is a historical monument ;
- a 16th- and eighteenth-century house on the Place de la Halle is a historical monument for its facade, loggiaLoggiaLoggia is the name given to an architectural feature, originally of Minoan design. They are often a gallery or corridor at ground level, sometimes higher, on the facade of a building and open to the air on one side, where it is supported by columns or pierced openings in the wall...
, and roof.
The Poignet house has a 17th-century window listed as a historical monument.
The Salvant et Vallat house is also a historical monument.
Official buildings
- The ancient court of the Châtellerie (16th century) is a historical monument since December 13, 1978 ;
- the ancient town hall (with parts from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries) has its facadeFacadeA facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
, roof, and stone chimney listed as national monuments since January 4rth 1951.
Castles, hotels and noble houses
- The manoir de Vassinhac (14th and 16th centuries), with elements of fortifications, is a historical monument ;
- the château or hôtel du Friac or de Beaurival (hôtel de Beaurival), 15th century, is a historical monument since December 17, 1926 ;
- the château de Benge, with parts from the 16th and 18th centuries, was listed as a historical monument by the orders of September 23, 1953 and march 18th 1954 ;
- the castel Maussac, 15th and 16th centuries, is a historical monument since December 17, 1926 ;
- the château du Breuil ;
- the château du Martret, with parts from the 16th and 19th centuries, is a historical monument ;
- the manoir de Beauvirie, 16th century, is a historical monument ;
- the château de Beauregard, 15th century, is a historical monument since December 17, 1926.
Military architecture
The fortified wall dates back to the fourteenth century: the doors of the ancient priory and of the church are both listed as historical monumentsMonument historique
A monument historique is a National Heritage Site of France. It also refers to a state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building or a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, or gardens, bridges, and other structures, because of their...
.
Religious art
The Saint-Pierre church, dating from the 11th, 12th and 15th centuries, with its romance curved steepleSteeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
(one of the oldest of the Limousin region), was fortified during the sixteenth century French wars of religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
. Its remarkable gates are decorated with a 12th century tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
carved in white stone (contrasting with the red stone of the rest of the village), representing the ascension of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
dominating his mother and the 11 apostles. It was hidden during the wars of religion and only replaced in 1923.
The main altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
, painted in blue and gold, is composed of a nineteenth-century altar, a partly seventeenth century tier, an eighteenth-century tabernacle
Church tabernacle
A tabernacle is the fixed, locked box in which, in some Christian churches, the Eucharist is "reserved" . A less obvious container, set into the wall, is called an aumbry....
, and an altarpiece
Altarpiece
An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
reconstructed in the 19th century with elements two centuries older. It was listed as a national treasure and restored in 1984-1985.
The altar (wooden and painted in gold) of the southern chapel represents the Passion and dates back to the end of the 17th century. It is also listed as a historical monument.
The wooden fence of the chapel, with a central turnstile, dating back around the turn of the 18th century, is decorated with coquilles, volute
Volute
A volute is a spiral scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the Ionic order, found in the capital of the Ionic column. It was later incorporated into Corinthian order and Composite column capitals...
s and sculpted acanthus
Acanthus (ornament)
The acanthus is one of the most common plant forms to make foliage ornament and decoration.-Architecture:In architecture, an ornament is carved into stone or wood to resemble leaves from the Mediterranean species of the Acanthus genus of plants, which have deeply cut leaves with some similarity to...
leaves. It is listed.
The 16th century wooden statue of Christ, was discovered in 1971. It is a historical monument, with two other statues of the Virgin Mary, respectively 17th and/or 18 centuries.
A wooden Christ on the cross dates back to the 17th century, and is listed.
The whole church is a historical monument since April 4, 1905.