26 page booklet "Duravel, à la découverte du bourg médiéval et de
2000 ans d'histoire" (in French) for sale at the Duravel Tourist office. Price: 3€
VILLAGES
CASSAGNES
Situation: This peaceful village is situated 6km from the Lot valley. The river Thèze passes nearby where you can fish for trout. It has a campsite, several bed and breakfasts and self catering gîtes. Cassagnes is a good starting point to visit the area and the bastides villages (new towns) of Villefranche du Périgord, Monpazier, Monflanquin, Tournon d'Agenais, Bonaguil Castle as well as the Lot and Dordogne Valley.
Cassagnes is perched on a hill top overlooking the Thèze Valley and the RD 673 (Fumel-Gourdon) surrounded by chestnut forests and valleys, much appreciated by hikers. Below in the Thèze Valley is a large lake where you can fish and picnic in the shade.
A brief history: Cassagnes comes from the Occitan word "casse" (meaning oak, for which the word "garrit" is also sometimes used). This parish is first mentioned in 1926 in the will of a Puy l'Évêque resident. Cassagne became a village in 1867. Before the French Revolution it was under the jurisdiction of Montcabrier. It was part of the parish of Puy l'Évêque during the revolution then added to Cazals when it was merged with Pomarède. Around the year 1953 it became part of the Puy l'Évêque parish again.
Town hall:
Mayor : M Jurquet
Tél : 05 65 36 60 32
46700 Cassagnes
Sights:
The church has kept some interesting aspects dating back to the 12th century, the southern graveyard gate (classified national monument in 1925) and the choir area (restored in 1965) where you can admire the sculptures around the apse. There are three stone "wash houses" situated on springs, called Pas de Sivié, Fontaine de Tarrieu and Moulin de la Courtine.
