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HISTORIC CULTURAL SITES
The village of Aubeterre sur Dronne is 15 minutes by car and is extremely beautiful. In the lower part of the village the Underground Church of St Jean, also known as the Monolithic church, Eglise Monolithique, or the troglodyte church is outstanding. The church has been carved out of the rock and reaches 20 metres at its highest. The church was hidden for years by a large rock fall and only rediscovered in the 1950s. Aubetterre is well known locally as having numerous excellent restaurants placed around its picturesque market square. It has stunning views from its walled position high on the hilltop and is very popular in the high season.
Brantôme has fascinated visitors for centuries. Nestled in a cluster of limestone caves high on the Aquitaine plateau, it attracted its earliest inhabitants over forty thousand years ago. The Celts gave Brantôme its name, a combination of the Celtic words for water and rocks. The Benedictine Abbey, built by Charlemagne in 769, is the main historical highlight of the town and the troglodyte section behind the abbey includes the famous cave of the 'Last Judgement'. During the summer you can visit the troglodyte section at night. Today, Brantôme is considered by many to be one of the world’s most sacred sites.
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