We're seeing red!
Historically present since the Middle Ages, Collonges reached its apogee at the beginning of the 16th century when it became the place of residence of the judicial officers, administrative officers and other high officials of the Viscounty of Turenne, one of the largest fiefs in France, enjoying complete fiscal autonomy. Thanks to this opulence, Collonges developed and many castles and manor houses appeared, adorning the village and contributing to its architectural richness.
Collonges then prospered thanks to the cultivation of vines, but in the 19th century phylloxera destroyed the crops and the town fell into a state of lethargy. Houses began to fall into ruin. In the 20th century, the rural exodus led to the loss of a large part of the population.
In order to halt this decline, the Collonges town council began conservation work in 1905, resulting in several monuments being listed. From 1970 onwards, the rebirth of Collonges was initiated by its mayor, Charles Ceyrac. The elected official from the Corrèze region could not resign himself to this economic decline, which threatened to wipe out a heritage that was as exceptional as it was little-known. Along with other elected representatives, he set up the association of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France", which became a label. He launched a programme to restore the village to its former glory.
That's how Collonges-la-rouge became the first village to be awarded the "Most Beautiful Village of France" label, and today it's a harmonious blend of narrow red sandstone streets, towers, squares, castles, chapels and beautiful houses with slate or lauzes roofs. Discover it at sunset, seated at a table in one of the many restaurants. A must.
