Village Of Trémolat

The origins of Trémolat go back many centuries. Over 1200 years ago Charlemagne stayed here and donated a relic to the church. The village has its own saint from this period, St. Cybard. From the 11th to 16th Century the village was fortified and the line of the village wall follows the end of our garden. It was dominated for many centuries by the monastery of which the enormous 12th Century church still dominates the square. There are also still remnants of cloisters and other monastic buildings. The other 12th Century church, the Chapel St. Hilaire, with stunning 20th Century stained glass, is in the cemetery.

At the heart of the village is the village square with town hall / school, church, Bar St. Hilaire, Le Bistro d'en face (in conjunction with Le Vieux Logis), pizzeria, mini supermarket and estate agents. Just off the village square is the bakers. Tuesday mornings see the small weekly market.

Village square, unusually empty of traffic as the annual brocante was just about to be set up.
The Old Bakery can be seen under the left hand branch of the tree.

Other facilities to be found in the village are the upmarket hotel / restaurant, Le Vieux Logis, (one of Floyd's favourite places, and whose chef has recently become France's top chef), village Post Office, Cafe de la gare and mini supermarket, MiniGolf, antiques shop and craft shop with enamel jewellery, pictures and ornaments. There are now 2 Ferme Auberge (restaurants) which are extremely good value. A few minutes walk from the square is the Bassin Nautique with a variety of watersports, tennis courts, football pitch, and Snack Bar which has frequently organised events (karaoke, films, discos). Because of the barrage at Mauzac, the other side of the cingle from Trémolat, the river is very still here, and for many years after the last war was used for the French national rowing championships. It was also the scene of international waterskiing events. In 2004, the World Cup Canoe Marathon was held here, and also the 2006 World Championships.

The Dordogne at Trémolat, with the Bassin Nautique on the left bank
and the village to its left.

Just outside the village is the village railway station with connections to Bergerac and Bordeaux to the west, and Sarlat to the east. From Le Buisson, the next station, there are connections to Perigueux and on to Paris, to the north, and to Agen and Toulouse to the south.

Claude Chabrol, the famous French film director, who comes from the area, set his film Le Boucher in Trémolat and many of the local inhabitants had small parts in the film.

There are many marked walks around the village and surrounding area (maps available) and in the summer months there are weekly organised walks.