Altillac (; oc, Altilhac) is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the

Corrèze Corrèze (; oc, Corresa) is a department in France, named after the river Corrèze which runs through it. Although its prefecture is Tulle, its most populated city is Brive-la-Gaillarde. Corrèze is located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region ...

department in the

Nouvelle-Aquitaine Nouvelle-Aquitaine (; oc, Nòva Aquitània or ; eu, Akitania Berria; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Novéle-Aguiéne'') is the largest administrative region in France, spanning the west and southwest of the mainland. The region was created by ...

region of central France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Altillacois'' or ''Altillacoises''.

Geography

left, View of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne across the river from Altillac Altillac is a large commune located in the central massif of the

Dordogne Dordogne ( , or ; ; oc, Dordonha ) is a large rural department in Southwestern France, with its prefecture in Périgueux. Located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region roughly half-way between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, it is name ...

in eastern

(previously the smaller

Limousin Limousin (; oc, Lemosin ) is a former administrative region of southwest-central France. On 1 January 2016, it became part of the new administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It comprised three departments: Corrèze, Creuse, and Haute-Vienn ...

region until 2016), almost on the border with

Occitania Occitania ( oc, Occitània , , or ) is the historical region in Western and Southern Europe where the Occitan language was historically spoken and where it is sometimes still used as a second language. This cultural area roughly encompasse ...

(previously

Midi-Pyrénées Midi-Pyrénées (; oc, Miègjorn-Pirenèus or ; es, Mediodía-Pirineos) is a former administrative region of France. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region of Occitania. It was the largest region of Metropolitan France by ar ...

). It was formerly called ''Xaintrie''. It is located some 30 km south-east of Brive-la-Gaillarde, 130 km south-west of

Clermont-Ferrand Clermont-Ferrand (, ; ; oc, label=Auvergnat, Clarmont-Ferrand or Clharmou ; la, Augustonemetum) is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, with a population of 146,734 (2018). Its metropolitan area (''aire d'attract ...

, and about 180 km east of

Bordeaux Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefect ...

. Access to the commune is on road D940 which goes to the village just 1 km east of

Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne (, literally ''Beaulieu on Dordogne''; oc, Belluec) is a commune in the Corrèze department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, central France. Beaulieu is a medieval city, originally dominated by its great abbey of St Pie ...

then continues south through the commune to

Biars-sur-Cère Biars-sur-Cère (, literally ''Biars on Cère''; Lengadocian: ''Biard de Sera'') is a commune in the Lot department located in southwestern France. It is the site of the headquarters of Andros, whose brands include Bonne Maman. During World Wa ...

. The D116E branches south-east from this road to join the D14 east of

Gagnac-sur-Cère Gagnac-sur-Cère (, literally ''Gagnac on Cère''; oc, Ganhac) is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France. Population See also *Communes of the Lot department The following is a list of the 313 communes of the Lot depa ...

. There is also the D116 coming from Brivezac in the north and the D41 highway to

La Chapelle-Saint-Géraud La Chapelle-Saint-Géraud (; oc, La Chapèla Sent Geraud) is a commune in the Corrèze department in central France. Population Geography The Maronne river forms the commune's northeastern boundary. See also *Communes of the Corrèze depa ...

in the north-east.Google Maps
/ref> The Dordogne river forms the western boundary of the commune with some streams from the commune flowing into it including the Ruisseau du Suquet. The eastern border of the commune is formed by the Ruisseau d'Orges which flows south into the Ceres river. The northern border is formed by the Ruisseau de Chauvac which flows west into the Dordogne. The Ruisseau de Laumond on the eastern side also flows east into the Orges as does the Ruisseau de Malaval in the south. There are quite a number of villages and hamlets in the commune. These are: *Andole *Courbignac *Esclaux *Fontmerle *Freyssignes *Gramond *Guilles *L'Aumond *L'Aussac *La Borderie *La Bourelle *La Majorie *La Palide *La Poujade *La Poulvélarie *La Veyssière *Le Rodal *Le Sagrier *Le Treil *Les Escures *Paliole *Siran

History

Altillac was the seat of a Viguerie under the

Carolingian dynasty The Carolingian dynasty (; known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolingus, Carolings, Karolinger or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family named after Charlemagne, grandson of mayor Charles Martel and a descendant of the Arnulfing and Pippin ...

. On 28 May 1942, the regional prefect of Limoges requisitioned land from the Chateau of Doux to create an internment centre for Jewish families.

Heraldry

Administration

List of Successive Mayors of Altillac:

Population

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

*The Chateau du Doux was built in 1904-1906 from plans by

Jean-Louis Pascal Jean-Louis Pascal (4 June 1837 – 17 May 1920) was an academic French architect. Life Born in Paris, Pascal was taught at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts by Émile Gilbert and Charles-Auguste Questel. He won the Grand Pri ...

. Influenced by the style used in

Deauville Deauville () is a commune in the Calvados department, Normandy, northwestern France. Major attractions include its harbour, race course, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino, and sumptuous hotels. The first Deauville Asian Film F ...

, it is built in the style of Xaintrie, the nearest town, to serve as a luxury hotel. It is built above a valley and offers views of the surrounding landscape. Different styles are used for the window frames: simple windows, large curved bayss with stone latticework, cross windows, skylights, and ''capucine passantes''. It used local materials to allow it to have a regional air: stones of various colours and a slate roof. Inside, the woodwork is Art Nouveau. *On the other side of the valley is the Doux domain where large farm buildings have been built: huge barns/stables on two levels with many barns built in imitation of small farms, which form a semblance of a hamlet, a henhouse, and a bread oven. All buildings - the hotel and the farm buildings - are certified as heritage of the 20th century. *The Dolmen de la Borderie - a

Neolithic The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several p ...

Dolmen in good condition.

Religious heritage

*The Church of Saint-Etienne (14th century) is registered as an historical monument. It was built in 1528 except for the bell tower which dates back to the 14th century. The Church contains several items that are registered as historical objects: **A set of Baptismal fonts **Covers for the Baptismal fonts (1700) **Bowls for the Baptismal fonts (12th century) **The panelling in the Choir (1676) **6 Bas-reliefs (1676) **The panelling on the walls (1676)

Personalities

Notable personalities linked to the commune include: *

Jean-Antoine Marbot Jean-Antoine Marbot ( , ; 7 December 1754 – 19 April 1800), also known to contemporaries as Antoine Marbot, was a French general and politician. He belongs to a family that has distinguished itself particularly in the career of arms, giving t ...

, born 7 December 1754 in Altillac – 19 April 1800: French divisional general and politician. Father of generals Adolphe and Marcellin Marbot * Adolphe Marbot, born 22 March 1781 in Altillac – 2 June 1844: French '' maréchal de camp'' (brigadier general) *

Marcellin Marbot Jean-Baptiste Antoine Marcelin Marbot ( , ; 18 August 1782 – 16 November 1854), known as Marcellin Marbot, was a French general, famous for his memoirs depicting the Napoleonic age of warfare. He belongs to a family that has distinguished it ...

, born 18 August 1782 in Altillac – 16 November 1854: French ''

lieutenant-général Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

'' (divisional general), author of the famous ''Memoirs of General Marbot'' * Marcel Conche, born 27 March 1922 in Altillac - 27 February 2022: French philosopher and professor emeritus of philosophy at the

Sorbonne Sorbonne may refer to: * Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities. *the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970) *one of its components or linked institution, ...

References

External links

Altillac official website

Altillac on the old National Geographic Institute websiteAltillac on Géoportail
National Geographic Institute (IGN) website
''Altillac'' on the 1750 Cassini Map
, title = Communes and villages surrounding Altillac , Centre = Altillac , North = La Laurie , Northeast = Roupeyroux , East = Peyrissac , Southeast = Longayroux , South = Les Combals-Biars-sur-Cere , Southwest = Le Soulie , West =

, Northwest = Le Moulin Abadiol , width = auto {{authority control Communes of Corrèze