Uzerche

Uzerche is a commune in the Corrèze department in the Limousin Region of central France.

Location

Uzerche is located a few kilometres beyond the western edge of the Plateau de Millevaches. Situated directly on one of France's main north-south routes historically, it is now by-passed to the west by the A20 motorway.

Uzerche is a hill town, built on a deeply-incised meander of the Vézère River. As such, it is a natural citadel.

Population

At the last census, Uzerche's population was 3,143.

History

Uzerche's history as a fortified town began in the late Roman period. According to legend, Uzerche was evangelised by Saint Martial, the first bishop of Limoges. It remained an important citadel and ecclesiastical centre throughout the Merovingian and Carolingian periods.

A Benedictine abbey was founded in the 9th century. In the 11th century, a major Romanesque abbey church was constructed on the summit of the town. It was consecrated in 1097. With some Gothic additions, this constitutes the "abbatiale Saint-Pierre" or Abbey Church of St Peter, which commands all views of the town to this day.

As a major route junction and market town, Uzerche continued to grow throughout the medieval period. It became the seat of a royal seneschal and the recognised capital of the lower Limousin.

The mid-18th century saw the construction across the river of a notable bridge, the Pont Turgot, the main approach to the town today. In 1855, a major tunnel improved access along the main north-south route, later the RN20. The arrival of the railway in the late 19th century resulted in the construction of large viaducts and tunnels, some of which have since become redundant and form footpaths from which to view the town.

Another major product of the period is the town's old lycée or grammar school, which was built deliberately alongside the abbey church, in a commanding position above the river, symbolically challenging the old clerical order in the town.

The town today retains a large number of medieval and early modern buildings, all dominated by the ancient abbey, the school and the mairie, arranged around a steeply sloping square, now named the Place de la Libération. It has seen a rapid growth in tourism in recent years.

Gallery

External Links

[http://www.uzerche.fr/ Official web site]