Curemonte

Curemonte is a hilltop village dominated by three castles with round and square towers that stand above the surrounding landscape. It sits at 207 meters in elevation and overlooks the valleys of Sourdoire and Maumont.

The village first appears in records from 860 AD in the Cartulary of Beaulieu Abbey and grew under the rule of the Viscounts of Turenne during the 11th century. This period of noble governance shaped the fortifications and layout of the settlement.

Three churches stand in the village, with Saint-Genest now serving as a Museum of Religious Art that displays local religious objects and traditions. These buildings reflect how religion shaped daily life here over the centuries.

The village is best explored on foot since narrow streets between honey-colored stone houses are difficult for vehicles to navigate. An orientation table at the summit offers vantage points to see the surrounding countryside.

Two of the three castles were owned in the 1940s by Bel Gazou, daughter of writer Colette, linking this medieval village to French literary circles. This lesser-known connection reveals how the site later attracted creative figures to its hilltop setting.

Location: canton of Meyssac

Location: Corrèze

Location: arrondissement of Brive-la-Gaillarde

Elevation above the sea: 207 m

Shares border with: Branceilles, La Chapelle-aux-Saints, Marcillac-la-Croze, Nonards, Puy-d'Arnac, Sioniac, Végennes

Address: 19500 Curemonte, France

Phone: +33555253476

Email: mairiecuremonte@wanadoo.fr

Website: https://curemonte.fr

GPS coordinates: 45.00083,1.74222

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:00