Excideuil

Visit Excideuil, Aquitaine

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.

See Aquitaine and Dordogne (the region and department for Excideuil) for more travel ideas...

Photos of Excideuil

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Suggested places to visit near Excideuil, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

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;

Excideuil tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Jardins du château de Hautefort - remarkable garden (11km) : Eglise Notre Dame de l'Assomption (Thiviers) - religious monument (13km) : Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche - recommended detour (23km) : Abbaye Cistercienne de Boschaud (Villars) - religious monument (25km) : Eglise Saint Etienne de la Cité (Perigueux) - religious monument (31km) : Jardins de l'Imaginaire - remarkable garden (31km) : Cathédrale Saint Front (Perigueux) - religious monument (31km) : Abbaye Saint Pierre (Brantome) - religious monument (32km) :

See more places and a map at places near Excideuil