Brantôme Travel Guide

 Beausoleil Says:  Walk along the lovely River Dronne past the Abbey St. Pierre until you come to the small garden at the south side. You will see the Medici Fountain on your right and the Tour St. Roch on your left followed by the Renaissance Pavilion with a portal giving onto the bridge to... 

 Beausoleil Says:  After you walk through the church, the cloisters, the abbey and the caves, enjoy the small garden adjoining the abbey. You can see the Tour St. Roch and the Renaissance Pavilion and to your right is the beautiful Medici Fountain set against the cliffside. 

 Beausoleil Says:  One visits Brantôme in order to visit the famous Benedictine Abbey sitting on the river. You may visit the church, the cloisters and the troglodyte (cave) section. The church and cloisters are free; the abbey was closed the day we were there and I am pretty sure there is a... 

 hquittner Says:  The church contains some old stone carvings, most notably the 14C relief of the Baptism of Christ and a diptych placed above a stoup made of a 12C capital in a style like the retable behind the altar at St.-Front in Perigueux. Outside of the church embedded in the apse... 

 hquittner Says:  The present church is basically a 14C Gothic Angevin renewal of the 12C dome-vaulted original which sustained damage in the earlier Wars. Later refinement were added and ultimately Abadie in 1850 did his alterations. Use has been made of ancient materials such as a table... 

 hquittner Says:  The Abbatial Palace was built in the 17C. It has an 18C staircase, although the lowest level looks much older. The dormitory and refectory were in this building. The building now houses the civic activities: town hall, schools, the Desmoulins Museum, the Tourist Office. 

 hquittner Says:  The Monastery had financial ups and downs through the centuries , especially during the depredations of the English and Religious Wars. From the outset use was made of the more than a dozen caves in the base of the great cliff behind the present palace. Many of these were... 

 hquittner Says:  Passage through the town presents no obstructions. The houses are old but not distinctive. The church of Notre Dame was begun in the 16C. It is topped by a false watch tower. In 1877 it became the town market when the Abbey church became the town church and the civic... 

 hquittner Says:  Le Pont Coude (Bent oe Elbowed Bridge) was built at the same time as the palace , the Monastery Gardens and the pavillion by the Abbot (1538-56). The bridge provided access to the gardens on a far bank away from the town. A submerged brakeater was included running from the... 

 hquittner Says:  The Gothic cloister was added by the commendatory abbot when he built his palace, the monastery gardens and the Pavillion (and modified the church). Unfortunately in 2850 Abadie removed two of the cloister galleries, traces of which remain on the lateral walls to which they... 

 hquittner Says:  The 11C Romanesque Belfry should be examined and if possible, its base should be entered and the adjacent chapter house remains viewed. The upper three levels of the belfry progressively diminish in size and each is treated differently. One has a prominent gable. 

 hquittner Says:  The Benedictine Abeey of Brantome was founded 769 by Charlemagne. It was rebuit in the 11C after a sacking by the Normans. A change from dome vaulting to Angevine style was effected in the 14C and it was refurbished in the mid-16C by the commendatory abbot who added a... 

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 62 Opinions

 DavidFlinn Says:  Small terrace overlooking the river Dronne. Ideal location in summer for a romantic dinner. Local ingredients prepared with flair. Friendly staff who speak English Pate de foie gras with onion marmalade and brioche. Try it with a glass of Monbazillac.