Haute-Vienne

This delightful village is in Limousin country and has grown up around the castle that was built in the 10C by Abon Drut, Lord of Mortemart. It was destroyed by order of Cardinal de Richelieu and all that remains of it today is the tower keep and a few rooms that now host exhibitions. While the Carmelite and Augustinian convents bear witness to the village’s religious past, the old covered market and leading citizens’ houses serve as a reminder that Mortemart was also a prosperous commercial centre.

Themes

• Castles and ramparts : The Dukes’ castle