Collonges-la-Rouge
Collonges-la-Rouge is a commune in the Corrèze department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France twenty kilometres south-east of Brive-la-Gaillarde, on the edge of the Limousin plateaus to the north and facing the Quercy, four kilometres to the south.
History
The monks of Charroux Abbey founded a priory in the 8th 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 faubourgs were created. Following the French wars of religion, the reconstruction of the nobility's fortune coincided with the viscount'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 19th century. Later on, its population slowly decreased and the village was transformed into a stone quarry.
At the beginning of the 20th century, some villagers created the association Les Amis de Collonges and eventually obtained the classification of the entire village as a historical monument in 1942.
Population
Its inhabitants are called Collongeois in French.Sights
The Halle Henri IV is a grain and wine market hall dating from the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. It still houses the communal oven that was still in use in 1968. The covered market hall is listed as a historical monument.Houses
- Maison de la Sirène, possesses a vaulted porch and dates to the 16th century. It belonged to Henry de Jouvenel, one of writer Colette's husbands. It is listed as a historical monument. A 3 franc postage stamp representing the Maison de la Sirène was issued on 3 July 1982
- A priory, built in the 16th century, has been a historical monument since 4 July 1951 for its facade with balcony and its roof;
- the ancient sisters' house, built in the 16th century, has been a historical monument since 4 July 1951;
- 16th-century Maison Bonyt is a historical monument for its facade, roof and spiral staircase;
- Maison Boutang du Peyrat, with parts from 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;
- 16th-century Maison Julliotis a historical monument for its facade, roof and entrance stairs;
- Maison Dey is a historical monument;
- A 16th and 18th-century house on the Place de la Halle is a historical monument for its facade, loggia, and roof;
- Maison Poignet has a 17th-century window listed as a historical monument;
- Maison Salvant et Vallat is also a historical monument.
Official buildings
- The Ancien tribunal de la Chatellerie has been a historical monument since 13 December 1978
- The ancient town hall has its facade, roof, and stone chimney listed as national monuments since 4 January 1951
Castles, hotels and noble houses
- Manoir de Vassinhac, with elements of fortifications, is a historical monument;
- Château or hôtel du Friac or de Beaurival, 15th century, is a historical monument since 17 December 1926;
- Château de Benge, with parts from the 16th and 18th centuries, was listed as a historical monument by the orders of 23 September 1953 and 18 March 1954;
- Castel Maussac, 15th and 16th centuries, has been a historical monument since 17 December 1926;
- Château du Breuil;
- Château du Martret, with parts from the 16th and 19th centuries, is a historical monument;
- Manoir dit de Beauvirie, 16th century, is a historical monument;
- Château de Beauregard, 15th century, has been a historical monument since 17 December 1926.
Military architecture
The fortified wall dates back to the 14th century. The doors of the ancient priory and of the church are both listed as historical monuments.Religious architecture
Église Saint-Pierre de Collonges-la-Rouge
The church of St Peter, dating from the 11th, 12th and 15th centuries, with its Romanesque curved steeple, was fortified both in the XIVth century and during the 16th-century French wars of religion. The west entrance has a 12th-century tympanum carved in white stone. The upper part represents the ascension of Christ, flanked by four angels. In the lower register are twelve statues: St Peter, the Virgin and the other ten apostles. It was dismantled and hidden during the wars of religion and not reconstructed and replaced until 1923.The main altar, painted in blue and gold, is composed of a 19th-century altar, a partly 17th-century gradin, an 18th-century tabernacle, and a retable reconstructed in the 19th century with elements two centuries older. It was listed as a national treasure and restored in 1984-1985.
The altar 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 altar rail of the chapel, with a central gate, dating back around the turn of the 18th century, is decorated with coquilles, volutes 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, from the 17th or 18th century. A wooden Christ on the cross dates back to the 17th century, and is listed. The whole church has been a historical monument since 4 April 1905.