Worth knowing

There is evidence that there have been human settlements along the entire Vézère valley since prehistoric times. Today, there are numerous caves and hollows to be visited in the limestone cliffs, even a hermit’s cave is said to be among them.  The first abbey was built here as far back as the 6th century and rebuilt during the 11th century.  The bridge that is the trademark structure of Terrasson to this day was built during the 12th century, but times of war and unrest also brought destruction to the settlement. The city’s connections to the surrounding area were improved during the 19th century, which brought enormous economic growth to the town. Industrialisation in the 20th century drew still more people to Terrasson, and in 1963 it merged with Lavilledieu to form a single community. Since 1990, Terrasson-Lavilledieu has opened its gates to Tourism and to Europe through twinnings and the “Jardins de l'Imaginaire”.