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Souillac

Visit Souillac, Midi-Pyrenees

Souillac is on the north-western edge of the Lot department, just across from the Dordogne department and in the Dordogne River valley.

Although many people zoom past Souillac on their way to the Dordogne further west, as a minimum you should stop and see the major feature of interest in the town:

Exploring Souillac

This highlight of a visit to Souillac is the Abbatiale-Sainte-Marie - the 12th century abbey church and a fine example of Roman style architecture.

Starting from the 10th century there was a monastery here, and by the 12th century it had become an important local centre and the impressive church was constructed. Much of the church was destroyed during the 16th century - firstly during the Wars of Religion, and later by a fire, but the part that remains is still very impressive.

Apart from the balanced design of the building there are also some impressive carvings, above all around the entrance door and the statue of Isaiah, which is one of the great carvings of the Middle Ages. Other carvings represent the story of the monk Theophilus. (It is likely these carvings were produced by the same sculptors as the impressive doorway to the Abbey of Saint Peter in Moissac.)

Souillac grew around the church, and is now a sizeable town. Although rather surrounded by more recent development, there are several interesting buildings from the earlier period of the town to be discovered as you explore.

You (or rather, your children) might like to visit the Museum of Automatons in Souillac, which features automated toys produced between 1860 and 1960, carefully maintained and in working order, and attractively presented.

Attractions nearby

Souillac is very well placed to explore many places of interest in the region, with Domme and the Dordogne to the west, Cahors and the Lot Valley to the south, the cluster of beautiful villages around Collonges-la-Rouge to the north-east and Rocamadour to the south-east.

Photos of Souillac (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Souillac: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*;

Suggested places to visit near Souillac, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Turenne 19km; Carennac 20km; Sarlat 21km; Collonges-la-Rouge 23km; Domme 24km; Gramat 24km; Curemonte 25km; La Roque-Gageac 25km; Saint-Amand-de-Coly 26km; Loubressac 26km; Chateau de Puymartin 27km; Chateau de Beynac 27km; Autoire 27km; Castelnau-Bretenoux Chateau 27km; Beynac 27km; Chateau de Castelnaud 28km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Souillac

Souillac tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Abbaye Sainte Marie (Souillac) - religious monument (1km) : Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac - remarkable garden (15km) : Eglise de Saint Pierre (Carennac) - religious monument (20km) : Cathédrale Saint-Sardos (Sarlat) - religious monument (21km) : Gouffre de Padirac - site of natural beauty (22km) : Gouffre de la Fage - site of natural beauty (23km) : Eglise notre-Dame de Nativité (Cenac-et-Saint-Julien) - religious monument (24km) : Jardins du château de Caudon - remarkable garden (24km) :