Belvès, Ancient Hillside Village in South West France

Périgord Cottage

The Dordogne

Belves

Belvès is a spectacular town with a population of about 1600. It was established as a hillcrest settlement and the site has been inhabited since 4000BC, and has a fortified eyrie dating from the beginning of the Christian era. In the 13th century it was the property of the Archbishop of Bordeaux. A fortified rampart connected the town to the 11th century fortress that overlooked it and these solid stone walls still enclose the old town. Some of the old houses are turreted and the terraces flanking the ramparts are now flower gardens that blaze with colour in the summer months.

In the village there are at least three restaurants, three boulangeries, two boucheries, three coffee shops, a bank and all other necessary commercial premises.

Place d'Armes, with its historic 12th century belfry and lined with old shops, is dominated by the covered market. This structure dates from the 15th century and on its superb timberwork still hangs an iron chain of the pillory that was used until the time of the Revolution. There are numerous Gothic and Renaissance buildings, a Dominican convent topped by an octagonal clock tower, a church built in the 13th century and, under the market square, there is a troglodytic site. These buildings and the narrow cobbled streets remind one of its ancient and varied history. There is a weekly market every Saturday morning under the covered market, a fair on the third Sunday in the month and fêtes during the last weekend in July. During the summer months there are many concerts of international standard held in the Église de Moncuq.