The hilltop village of Turenne at sunrise in the Corrèze department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

© Tim Mannakee/plainpictur

Charming Turenne. Turenne, Corrèze, France

Today, we’re hovering over one of the most beautiful villages in France, Turenne. This historic centre, with its medieval castle walls, was built on a strategically important hill in the heart of France, in what is now the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Here at the intersection of trade and religious routes, Turenne became the capital of a prosperous area run by feudal lords. Up until the 18th century, the village minted its own currency and raised its own troops and was largely independent of the monarch. That all came to an end in 1738, when it was sold to Louis XV, to pay the gambling debts of the last of the ruling viscounts.

Turenne’s medieval streets and castle ruins form a unique historical monument. Boasting a charming mix of slate roofs and turrets, 16th and 17th century mansions and the 13th century Cesar Tower, the locals strive to preserve Turenne’s charms for future generations.