Limeyrat
www.limeyrat.net

The parish of Limeyrat is home to 442 people. The village is situated on a geologic fault line. The landscape varies from the arid, rocky slopes in the south to a soil rich with clay, that of the crustaceous period, in the north; from the limestone plains of the Jurassic to hillsides covered with chestnuts, pubescent oaks and resinous trees.

The culminating point, called Chalard, is 243 meters high. From there, when the weather is good, you can observe the mountains of the Auvergne region. Not far from the lookout, the place called Red House was probably a stop on the Roman road.

The old village is made up of ancient houses grouped around the 12th century Roman church, which is dedicated to Saint-Hilare and features a bell wall. The Greco-Byzantine influence is already visible at the front door, which is ornamented with four beautiful capitals. Some remnants of the castle are hidden around the church. The old cemetery, flanked by a high limestone wall, also constitutes an architectural curiosity full of character.

The Cannons Road makes a detour at the village that seems brief, in spite of the large amounts of charcoal that Limeyrat provided. This was the product of, most notably, its huge forest composed of oak and hornbeam.

Along the footpaths, you can discover la Peira Levada, a large stone laid out flat dating from the 5th millennium, and of an incontestable scientific interest. A lovely stone hut accompanies the monument in this magical place where you can have a relaxing picnic.

Remarkable and protected flora, a great variety of wild orchids may be observed but never picked.

Many small rural edifices are waiting for you at Limeyrat, such as stone crosses and water features like fountains, wash houses or wells. Don’t miss the pretty private chapel at the Pinolie, or the vestiges of the ovens built to manufacture bricks and shingles at Courzanac.

The old quarries were made famous for their building stone, which most notably decorated the façade of the Paris Opera, but also the stone bridge at Bordeaux, the steps to the courthouse at Périgueux and the domes of the Sacred Heart at Montmartre.