Collonges-the-Red

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Collonges-the-Red is a Commune Frenchwoman, located in the department of the Corrèze and the area the Limousin.

Its name is probably derived from the Latin colonia .

The inhabitants of Collonges-the-Red are " Collongeois, Collongeoises"

Heraldic

Weapons of the commune: Of azure to the money band, with the ecu in coticé heart of gold and mouths of twelve parts (weapons of Vassinhac and Turenne). Blazon voted on March 4th, 1978.

Geography

The village belongs to the more beautiful villages of France (it is here that to create association in 1982 was born the idea), it is one of the most visited sites of the Limousin.

The village of Collonges is built all in red sandstone; it is known as of the 8th century by a gift of the Count de Limoges of the church of the Paroisse to the Monastère of Charroux.

History

Collonges draws its name from Latin Colonica: “house of the colonist” . The Moine S of the Abbaye of Charroux in Poitou found a Prieuré at the 8th century. It attracts under its protection a population of peasants, craftsmen and tradesmen. Around its buildings protected by an enclosure, prosperous community. The reception of the pilgrims on the way for Compostelle via Rocamadour is a durable source of profits. In 1308, the Viscount of Turenne grants to the city a charter of frankness. The right of high, average and low jurisdiction is granted to him. It governs the birth of lines of prosecutors, lawyers, notaries. The enclosure is not enough any more to contain its population. Are born the barris then: the suburb of Veyrie in the east, that of Hautefort, Faure, Guitardie. After the wars of religion, the rebuilding of the inheritance of the minor nobility coincides with the rise to power of the Vicomté. It is at that time that rise noble the home of the officers of the Viscount.

After the sale of the Viscount in 1738, then the Revolution, which destroys the buildings of the priory, the borough finds only one transitory prosperity at the beginning of the 19th century. Collonges loses little by little its inhabitants, the village being transformed into stone quarry.

At the beginning of the 20th century, some Collongeois created the association of the Friends of Collonges allowing the classification of the entire site in 1942.

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

the church Saint-Pierre , dating from the 11th century, with its Romance bell-tower with contours (one of oldest of the Limousin), was strengthened at the time of the wars of religion at the 16th century. What strikes especially, it is its gate decorated with a tympanum out of white stone (whereas all the city is red). It represents the rise of the Christ. This one dominates his/her mother and the 11 apostles; it was carved at the 12th century. It was hidden during the wars of religion, and positioned back only in 1923.

the house of the Siren (Seat of the Friends of Collonges): one of the most remarkable buildings, it was the property of Henry de Jouvenel, one of the husbands of the writer Colette.
the Castle of Vassinhac 14th and 16th century, whose owners were Gouverneur S and Capitaine S of the Château of Turenne.
the Castle of Friac or Beaurival (15th century).
the Castle of Benge (16th century).
the Manor house Maussac.
the Castle of Breuil.
the Castle of Martret.
the Castle of Beauverie.

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