What to see in Donzenac

The Steeple

Dating from the 13th century, Donzenac's gothic style steeple is classed as a historic monument. Such is its resemblance, it could have served as a sketch for Tulle's cathedral steeple. The rest of the church was entirely reconstructed in 1832 but it still houses an enamelled shrine from the 13th century. It probably stands in the same spot as a church dedicated to Saint Martin dating from the year 1000 AD.

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In 2020, Donzenac received the regional award "Les rubans du patrimoine" for its renovation, recognizing a particularly remarkable achievement.

The Ramparts

From as early as the 13th century onwards the town spread out from its fortified confines northwards, thereby creating the Puy Broch quarter. You can still see the look-out path on the north ramparts.

The Chapel of St Michel

The old cemetery conceals a little 13th century chapel dedicated to Saint Michel. its fortified wall is partly constructed from sarcophagi (stone coffins).
There were five burial places in Donzenac, of which the oldest, not far from the new cemetery on the road to Allassac, was perhaps pre-Christian.

Porte Maleguise

The Tilleul Gate (formerly Maleguise) was destroyed during the religious wars probably in July 1577 by Geoffroy de Vivant, lieutenant of the King of Navarre, the future Henry IV. Donzenac remained catholic in a predominantly protestant area.
In 1572, the lord of Donzenac was none other than the Queen of France, Catherine of Medici.

The Convent of Cordeliers

The convent of Cordeliers (Franciscan order) was founded by the lords of Comborn and Malemort. It was sold as a national property during the Revolution.
A drawing of 1810 gives witness to the beauty of its gothic church, of which very little remains.

The Chapel of the Brotherhood of the White Penitents

The Chapel of the Brotherhood of the White Penitents was constructed in 1677 on the remains of the Hall of Arms of the Chateau de la Robertie, which until the 15th century defended the southern ramparts of Donzenac.

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The Chateau of the Barons of Donzenac

At the highest point of the old quarter of Donzenac you can see the façade, restored during the Renaissance period, of a frequently re-constructed chateau.
This was probably the Chateau of the Barons of Donzenac and possibly the most ancient of all the dwellings in the town.

The 13th Century House

Listed as an historic monument in 1967, this is the most well known medieval house in Donzenac. It is the only one to be the object of an important phase of study and restoration. The building consists of three levels of which the cellar has been half-buried by the slope of the land. A fourth level disappeared at an unknown date and was replaced by a roof. The main facade built in sandstone features an arcade and three double bay windows. The position of one of these on the ground floor is a rarity in civic architecture. The characteristics of this facade suggest the middle of the 13th century.

The two other visible walls, built out of schist, bear the traces of refurbishments of the end of the 15th century or later.

Les Pans de Travassac

In a landscape of astonishing shapes, colours and sounds, the slate quarries of Travassac offer :

- A unique and magical walk around a terrain of haunting slate precipices fashioned by the hand of man during more than three centuries,
- A chance to discover the age-old techniques of the slate-worker's trade in a reconstruction of a bygone era,
- A trip into the past of a village and its slate quarries... with a descent into a subterranean gallery housing a small museum.

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