A walk in Meyssac!

As a prelude to Collonges la Rouge, do not hesitate to stop at Meyssac , a pretty village all dressed in red. Small shops, intimate alleys flanked by beautiful red sandstone houses, Meyssac is a place that is also known to geology enthusiasts for its Meyssac fault. A rural village, it honors regional producers and hosts a weekly market on Tuesday and Friday mornings, as well as fairs on the 2nd and ^4th Friday morning of each month. We were there for one of them! Shall we go?

Photos from the report: Corrèze Guide

The village of Meyssac and its fault

Half-timbered houses, Gothic church and beautiful residences. Everything breathes beauty in Meyssac. Park your car outside the village and head into the town. The epicentre is the 18th century market hall ; it is listed as a historical monument and its chestnut frame looks great. It was a gathering place and still is thanks to the regular fairs and markets. Old shops are visible, because Meyssac was a village of traders who, thanks to these converted ground floors, had a gable on the street.

You will pass in front of the Maison Faige, a pretty little manor house with its ^17th century gate and its small covered roof above. Admire its woodwork which gives elegance to the whole. Other manor houses and " winemaker " type houses are present in the village. In the past, vines were cultivated all around the village and some are still in place. The phylloxera crisis has, as in other parts of Corrèze (Yssandonnais in particular), greatly limited the expansion of the vine. You will notice that round towers are common in Meyssac, they often house spiral staircases to serve the floors of the houses. It was a token of wealth, an ostentatious element. Half-timbered houses with wooden half-timbering in the shape of a "Saint Andrew's cross" are present in Meyssac, a construction typical of the Middle Ages, which goes hand in hand with corbels (when the upper floor is larger than the ground floor).

The Gothic-style Saint-Vincent church with its beautiful triple-arched pointed-arch portal dates from the 12th ^century but was rebuilt in the ^15th century. The bell tower porch is imposing and fortified. Continue your walk through the alleys following the signs!

The geology of the region is unique and interesting to discover at the Espace de Découverte de la Faille de Meyssac et de la Pierre. In the neighboring town of Noailhac in the center of the village, you will learn more about this rupture between sandstone and limestone , this geological fault formed 200 million years ago. This results in a rupture of the vegetation , because of the changing nature of the soil. A walking trail " De sable et de calcaire " exists to appreciate it with your eyes, as well as a car trail with 5 stations equipped with panels. Geology enthusiasts will be delighted to visit the interpretation center with its 5 complete exhibition rooms, its models and fossils.

Things to see around Meyssac

• Less than 2km away is Collonges-la-Rouge, the first “Most Beautiful Villages of France” in France and a jewel, a must-see in Corrèze.
• Also visit the pretty village of Turenne and its Château de Turenne perched on top of a hill, which watches over the surroundings and keeps watch over the village. Read our article reporting on the visit to Turenne
• And one of the 6 Most Beautiful Villages in France is also nearby, it is Curemonte . Read our report on the visit to Curemonte

As you will have understood, lovers of heritage and culture will appreciate the region!

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