Limeuil, Commune in Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Limeuil is a commune in the Dordogne department of southwestern France, sitting at the point where the Vézère flows into the Dordogne river. The village climbs a hillside and is made up of stone houses with brown-tiled roofs, paved lanes, and three surviving medieval gates.
The site at the river junction was occupied in prehistoric times, as shown by carved stones from the Magdalenian period found in the area. In the Middle Ages the settlement became a fortified town, and in the 19th century its river port was a busy trading stop for goods heading toward Bordeaux.
The panoramic gardens, laid out on the grounds of an old castle, offer views over the meeting point of the Dordogne and the Vézère. Several themed sections, including a medieval garden, follow one another along the walking paths.
The village is best explored on foot, as the lanes are narrow and steep in places. A greenway connects Limeuil to nearby towns along the river, making it a good starting point for a half-day bike ride.
The chapel of Saint Martin, built at the end of the 12th century, is said to have been erected as an act of penance for the murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. This link to one of the most talked-about events of medieval England is still part of the story visitors hear on site.
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