This multimedia audio and video tour takes you to explore Le Dorat’s 12th century collegiate church and remarkable constructions such as the town’s mansions.
The town of Le Dorat was founded around a religious community called a chapter. Eric Sparhubert, who is a Medieval History lecturer at the University of Limoges, tells us all about its origins, and helps separate facts from legends.
Le Dorat chapter was made up of canons. Anne Massoni, a Medieval History lecturer at the University of Limoges, explains the role played by these monks and how their lives were organized in the city.
This great Romanesque church, called a “collegiate church” because it was part of a chapter of canons, has kept its harmonious 12th century architecture. Learn all about its construction thanks to Eric Sparhubert.
The collegiate church is decorated with remarkable Romanesque sculpted capitals, which you can see up close in this video.
This baptismal font probably dates back to the 12th century. It was carved in a single slab of granite. What animals are carved on it ?
This baptismal font probably dates back to the 12th century. It was carved in a single slab of granite. What animals are carved on it ?
They are lions. Lions were often represented on 12th century sculptures. The length of their paws and the shape of their heads are horse-like features but it is easy to tell they are lions, because of the shape of their paws and their slim tails with bushy tips. The artist had probably never seen a real lion and used other sculpted or drawn models.
You may have noticed the unusual shape of the baptismal font. There are two similar trilobe fonts nearby. One is located in Bellac. The other can be found in an old quarry in the woods in Châteauponsac (2nd slide photo). It was never completed and was simply left there.
They are lions. Lions were often represented on 12th century sculptures. The length of their paws and the shape of their heads are horse-like features but it is easy to tell they are lions, because of the shape of their paws and their slim tails with bushy tips. The artist had probably never seen a real lion and used other sculpted or drawn models.
You may have noticed the unusual shape of the baptismal font. There are two similar trilobe fonts nearby. One is located in Bellac. The other can be found in an old quarry in the woods in Châteauponsac (2nd slide photo). It was never completed and was simply left there.
They are lions. Lions were often represented on 12th century sculptures. The length of their paws and the shape of their heads are horse-like features but it is easy to tell they are lions, because of the shape of their paws and their slim tails with bushy tips. The artist had probably never seen a real lion and used other sculpted or drawn models.
You may have noticed the unusual shape of the baptismal font. There are two similar trilobe fonts nearby. One is located in Bellac. The other can be found in an old quarry in the woods in Châteauponsac (2nd slide photo). It was never completed and was simply left there.
The chapter’s prosperity developed thanks to the worship of the relics of two local saints, Israel and Theobald. Find out more thanks to this audio guide and its slides.
Le Dorat’s organ is an exceptional 19th century instrument. Organ-maker Jean-Loup Boisseau invites you to discover how the organ works, to meet organ-player Dominique Lasnier and to hear him play.
Jacques Pérot, who applied for the « Ostensions Limousines » UNESCO registration, explains the medieval roots of this tradition. Laurent Gouneau, the town’s priest, discusses the specificity of Le Dorat’s Ostensions.
Find out how and why the fortified tower became part of the collegiate church’s harmonious architecture in the 15th century.
In the 16th century, a court of law opened in Le Dorat, to settle all court cases in the entire Basse-Marche area. It used to be located where the Carmelite convent was built. Here is its story.
Between the 17th and the 20th centuries, le Dorat was home to many religious congregations. Many of the old buildings still remain today [such as Notre Dame du Temple chapel, where you are standing now]. This audio guide explains the history of these communities.
Find out about « hôtel de la Pouge », one of Le Dorat’s remarkable buildings, among the many residences built by the town’s law officers and court notables.
The door of the house called « Maison Saint Savin », has a head sculpted on its pediment. What do you call this type of architectural element ?
The door of the house called « Maison Saint Savin », has a head sculpted on its pediment. What do you call this type of architectural element ?
It is a modillion. It comes from an older building (13th century) and was re-used in the 17th century. In the centre of the pediment, you can see theintertwined initials VPDM (“Vénérable Pierre Du Monteil” – Honourable Pierre Du Monteil), who was a monk and lord of « la Grange-Saint-Savin” (in Dinsac). He lived in this house in the early 17th century.
It is a modillion. It comes from an older building (13th century) and was re-used in the 17th century. In the centre of the pediment, you can see theintertwined initials VPDM (“Vénérable Pierre Du Monteil” – Honourable Pierre Du Monteil), who was a monk and lord of « la Grange-Saint-Savin” (in Dinsac). He lived in this house in the early 17th century.
It is a modillion. It comes from an older building (13th century) and was re-used in the 17th century. In the centre of the pediment, you can see theintertwined initials VPDM (“Vénérable Pierre Du Monteil” – Honourable Pierre Du Monteil), who was a monk and lord of « la Grange-Saint-Savin” (in Dinsac). He lived in this house in the early 17th century.
These two 17th and 18th century houses standing face to face are old mansions. They are easy to recognize, thanks to their door ornaments. Who had these mansions built?
These two 17th and 18th century houses standing face to face are old mansions. They are easy to recognize, thanks to their door ornaments. Who had these mansions built?
A family of lawyers who worked at the Seneschalsy court had them built. The one with the ox-eye window belonged to the Boucheul family. Joseph Boucheul wrote several law books in the 17th century, namely « Le Coutumier du Poitou”. The house with the triangular pediment above the door lintel belonged to the Sandomoy de Libaudière family of lawyers, in the 18th century.
A family of lawyers who worked at the Seneschalsy court had them built. The one with the ox-eye window belonged to the Boucheul family. Joseph Boucheul wrote several law books in the 17th century, namely « Le Coutumier du Poitou”. The house with the triangular pediment above the door lintel belonged to the Sandomoy de Libaudière family of lawyers, in the 18th century.
A family of lawyers who worked at the Seneschalsy court had them built. The one with the ox-eye window belonged to the Boucheul family. Joseph Boucheul wrote several law books in the 17th century, namely « Le Coutumier du Poitou”. The house with the triangular pediment above the door lintel belonged to the Sandomoy de Libaudière family of lawyers, in the 18th century.
Have a close look at the fountain in the middle of the town square. Mr and Mrs Robert-Lapayrière had it built and donated it to the town, in memory of their two children, Jeanne and Clément, who died in an accident. What do you think the statue is pointing at ?
Have a close look at the fountain in the middle of the town square. Mr and Mrs Robert-Lapayrière had it built and donated it to the town, in memory of their two children, Jeanne and Clément, who died in an accident. What do you think the statue is pointing at ?
It is pointing at the Pierre-Blanche streams, discovered in 1870 by abbott Rougerie, a philosophy teacher at the “Petit Séminaire”, back when the town’s water supply was running out. He and several of his students found the streams. They studied their altitudes and measured the distances between them,
then suggested canalizing the water into town. The piping works took place two years later. The fountain, created by Pierre-Amédée Brouillet (1826-1901), Headmaster of the Poitiers School of Fine Arts, was inaugurated in 1972.
It is pointing at the Pierre-Blanche streams, discovered in 1870 by abbott Rougerie, a philosophy teacher at the “Petit Séminaire”, back when the town’s water supply was running out. He and several of his students found the streams. They studied their altitudes and measured the distances between them,
then suggested canalizing the water into town. The piping works took place two years later. The fountain, created by Pierre-Amédée Brouillet (1826-1901), Headmaster of the Poitiers School of Fine Arts, was inaugurated in 1972.
It is pointing at the Pierre-Blanche streams, discovered in 1870 by abbott Rougerie, a philosophy teacher at the “Petit Séminaire”, back when the town’s water supply was running out. He and several of his students found the streams. They studied their altitudes and measured the distances between them,
then suggested canalizing the water into town. The piping works took place two years later. The fountain, created by Pierre-Amédée Brouillet (1826-1901), Headmaster of the Poitiers School of Fine Arts, was inaugurated in 1972.
The castle of the Counts of La Marche stood upon a hill north of the town, between the 12th and the 16th centuries. The people of Le Dorat owe its foundation to their ancestor Boson le Vieux que le Dorat. Listen to the story of the knights and their rivalry with the chapter.
Porte Bergère, one of Le Dorat’s emblematic monuments used to be part of the fortifications which surrounded the town. This audio guide and its slides will help you to fully comprehend Le Dorat’s defense system.
The collegiate church tower’s arrow has an angel upon it. Find out more in this audio guide.
