Villetoureix

Villetoureix ; Vila Torrés
region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Dordogne
Arrondissement	Périgueux
Canton	Ribérac
Community association	Pays Ribéracois
Coordinates	45 ° 16 ′ N , 0 ° 22 ′ E Coordinates: 45 ° 16 ′ N , 0 ° 22 ′ E
height	56-161 m
surface	16.40 km 2
Residents	906 (January 1, 2017)
Population density	55 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code	24600
INSEE code	24586
Website	Villetoureix
	; Villetoureix - View of the town with the Église Saint-Martin

Villetoureix ( Occitan Vila Torres ) is a southwestern French city and a municipality (commune) with 906 inhabitants (as of January 1 2017) in the center of the department Dordogne in the region Nouvelle-Aquitaine (before 2016: Aquitaine ). It consists of the main town and several hamlets (hameaux) and individual farms (fermes) .

Location and climate

The place Villetoureix is located on the north bank of the Dronne in the old cultural landscape of the Périgord a good 35 km (driving distance) northwest of Périgueux or just under 4 km northeast of Ribérac at an altitude of about 75 m . The climate is temperate; Rain (approx. 870 mm / year) falls over the year.

Population development

year	1800	1851	1901	1954	1999	2015
Residents	879	1,092	863	701	762	904

The continuous decline in population in the late 19th and first half of the 20th century is mainly due to the phylloxera crisis in viticulture and the mechanization of agriculture ; Added to this is the ongoing abandonment of small farms. Since the 1970s the population has risen again to over 900, which is mainly due to the proximity to the city of Ribérac.

economy

The community is still largely dominated by agriculture and forestry; Viticulture, which was quite important in earlier times, only plays a subordinate role. Small traders, craftsmen and service providers have settled in the village. Since the 1960s, some of the vacant houses have been rented out as holiday apartments ( gîtes ) .

history

Small Stone Age finds were made in the municipality . The round tower of the Château de la Rigale dates from Gallo-Roman times . The place name Villatores can be found for the first time in a document from the 13th century. The local parish church was built in the 19th century.

Attractions

The Église Saint-Martin dates from the 12th century; In the course of time, however, it has undergone numerous changes, so that today only the lower part of the crossing and the outer walls of two bays of the nave are originally preserved. Inside there is a listed tabernacle from the 17th century.
The former rectory (presbytère) and today's town hall (mairie) was built in 1775; it has been recognized as a monument historique since 2002 .

Surroundings

The Château de la Rigale , built in the 17th century, is located approx. 1 km east of the town center. Its round tower has a diameter of approx. 8 m and is made of regular layers of natural and brick (brique et pierre) ; several cross-stock windows were added in the 17th century. The tower is similar to the Tour de Vésone near Périgueux and - despite being privately owned - has been classified as a monument historique since 1905 .
Approx. 500 m from the castle there is a pigeon house (colombier) supported by stone pillars .
The Château de Fayolle and its chapel are about 2 km northwest of the village. It now serves as a B&B hotel. The neoclassical style chapel, built at the end of the 19th century, was recognized as a monument historique in 2002 .