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Excideuil

Visit Excideuil (Aquitaine, France)

Excideuil is a market town in the northern half of the Dordogne department, about 30 kilometres north-east of Perigueux, the capital of the department.

Explore Excideuil

Excideuil has an attractive town square which grew up around a 10th century monastery. All that now remains of the monastery is the church but this is an attractive building with doorways surrounded by carvings. These stone doorways date from the 15th century.

Surrounding the church are lots of impressive buildings, some of which date back to the 16th century and many are from the 17th and 18th century. During this time Excideuil was exempted from paying tax and had a thriving iron mining industry, so lots of imposing houses were built for the wealthy mine owners and traders who came to the town.

The castle in the town is set high on a rocky promontory, and successfully repelled Richard the Lionheart on three different occasions - although the main castle is not open to the public it can be admired from the outside.

Excideuil also has a hospital which is thought to date back to the 12th century when it was a convent. This is one of the oldest buildings in the region.

Market day is Thursday and this is a particularly good day to visit the town. The Excideuil market is one of the best in the area.

Attractions nearby

Excideuil is in the northern part of the Dordogne department in attractive rolling countryside with the Perigord-Limousin Natural Park a little way to the north.

It is close to the Chateau de Hautefort which is one of the most impressive chateaux in the Dordogne department. The Chateau de Jumilhac is also nearby and is another very attractive castle.

The recently discovered Grottes of Tourtoirac are also nearby and these contain an impressive display of stalactites and stalagmites. Tourtoirac is an attractive village to the south of Excideuil with the remains of an attractive abbey.

Photos of Excideuil

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Address: Excideuil, Périgueux, Dordogne, Aquitaine, 24160 || GPS: latitude 45.337, longitude 1.0502

Map of Excideuil & places nearby



 

Highlights close by

More suggestions: Segur-le-Chateau 22km; Chateau de Puyguilhem 25km; Perigueux 30km; Terrasson 30km; Montignac 31km; Brantome 31km; Lascaux caves 33km; Plazac 33km; Saint-Amand-de-Coly 34km; Bourdeilles 36km; Saint-Leon-sur-Vezere 37km;

See lots more places to visit nearby and a more detailed map at places near Excideuil.
See Aquitaine and Dordogne (the region and department for Excideuil) for more travel ideas...

Suggested tourist attractions to visit near Excideuil, France

• Jardins du château de Hautefort - remarkable garden (11km)
• Eglise Notre Dame de l'Assomption (Thiviers) - religious monument (13km)
• Saint-Jean-de-Cole - most beautiful village (19km)
• Segur-le-Chateau - most beautiful village (22km)
• Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche - recommended detour (23km)
• Chateau de Puyguilhem - national monument (25km)
• Abbaye Cistercienne de Boschaud (Villars) - religious monument (25km)
• Perigueux - town of art and history (30km)
• Perigueux cathédrale Saint Front (monuments on French pilgrim routes) - heritage site (31km)
• Jardins de l'Imaginaire - remarkable garden (31km)

Market days in Excideuil: Regular market(s) are held in Excideuil each Thursday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Excideuil (Francais)