Issigeac

Issigeac is a common French, located in the department of the the Dordogne and the area Aquitaine. Its inhabitants is called Issigeacois.

Geography

History

To 20 km in the south of Bergerac, the village of Issigeac is primarily a medieval borough . However, its roots are much older bus of the prehistoric vestiges were found on the commune.

At the 4th century of our era, there was a Gallo-Roman villa of which the balneal part was found in 1994, at the time of road works. This building was decorated mosaics, decorative elements in stucco. A necropolis mérovingienne was established on the site even villa, ruined during the cruel invasions.

The first written mention of Issigeac goes back to 1008 and relates to the church Saint Martin. In 1153, the texts mention the monastery, which depended on the large abbey of Sarlat. During the 13th century, the city blottit inside ramparts, in order to protect itself from the combat of the One hundred Year old War. This seigniory depended on the lords of Bergerac, but very quickly, the seniors (responsible for the community of monks) monopolized the feudal rights, and became spiritual and temporal lords of the jurisdiction of Issigeac. Habits (“Charter of privileges”) were written in 1298 .

In 1351, Issigeac was attached to the goods of évêché of Sarlat: consequently, Issigeac became a residence of the prelates of Sarlat. The current church was built at the 16th century by the bishop Armand de Gontaut-Biron . But soon, the city suffered much from the Wars of religion. The castle and the church were partly destroyed, and the city found its calm only at the 17th century. The church and the current castle were rebuilt under the episcopate of François II of Salignac de Lamothe-Fénelon. It is at this same time that Fénelon, celebrates writer, resided in his uncle in this castle.

In 1789, the city wrote its register of grievances and knew during all the 19th century of many changes, fortunately without too many effects on architecture of the borough. In spite of a renewal of activity at last century, the city fell asleep at the beginning of the 20th century, which preserved it great work of urban refittings.

Today, it is a small city where it makes good things in life and which now stopped its rural migration. Issigeac was in 1988 the place of turning of the film " Soule" (ancestor of Rugby) of Mr. Sibra with in particular Richard Bohringer. Many visitors come each year in Issigeac, remain there, and sometimes even are established to with it.

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

Church Félicien Saint

At the end of the 15th century century, Armand de Gontaut Biron, bishop of Sarlat and lord of Issigeac, made raise the current church on the site of the Romance priory. Construction lasted nearly 40 years and was completed in 1527.

The church Saint Félicien presents a beautiful whole of the finishing Gothic architecture (a rare example in Périgord) to 3 naves supported by paring arcs. The octagonal bell-tower breaks with the architecture of the 15th century and 16th century and points out the Romanesque art.

Remarkable elements:

the octagonal Bell-tower
the central Nave with its pillar-barrels
the pentagonal Apse and the absidioles
the Lancet S (windows) of the bedside and stained glasses of the 19th century
Wood statues tuqué (17th century) in the chorus
the statue of Marie out of wooden gilded (17th century)

The church of Félicien Saint is classified with the Historic buildings. Important renovation works will be necessary in the years which come, because of serious cracks appeared these last years and part of the southern nave collapsed in 2006.

Castle of the bishops of Sarlat

As of the 14th century, the Bishops of Sarlat come to settle in Issigeac and make their ordinary residence of it. One of the successors, François II of Salignac Fénelon makes build the castle in 1660 on medieval fortifications.

This building, registered voter with the historic buildings, reveals the characteristics of the French classical architecture: sobriety, symmetry, order, clearness. Its pace is however softened by the two small round turrets fixed on each angle of the side wings. Today, the castle shelters the tourist office in his arched cellars.

Other monuments

House of the Heads : Gothic house 14th century: wood sides and beams carved on basis out of stone of size.
Old Prévôté 16th century/17th century.
Maison of Said .
Houses with wood galleries.
Vestiges of the old enclosure of ditches and ramparts known as “Turn of City”.

Personalities related to the commune

See too

With the surroundings

the Canton of Issigeac
the vineyard of Monbazillac

External bonds

Official site of the town of Issigeac
Issigeac on the site of Quid
Issigeac on Geoportail.fr

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