Home

Art Courses

Tutors

Holiday cottage

Bed & Breakfast

Region

Food and Wine

Availability

Tariffs and
Bookings

How to find us &
travel information

Seasonal specials

Links

Contact us

Calendar of events

Notice board
and shop

Favourite recipes

Local Producers

Gift vouchers

Articles by and about Les Trois Chenes

Rochechouart, Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France

Rochechouart, just ten minutes away from Videix, is a vibrant town with its imposing Château dating back to the 13th century, and its Romanesque cathedral with its famous twisted spire. Today the castle functions as a museum of modern art and it hosts several travelling exhibitions a year as well as a permanent collection. The castle itself, and many of the other ancient buildings in the region, including Les Trois Chênes, derive their distinctive character from the stone of a meteorite, which fell nearby about 200 million years ago. You can visit the meteorite museum in Rochechouart.

The town and chateau is on The Route of Richard the Lionheart. The history of the Limousin is tied to that of England through Richard the Lionheart, son of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. In 1189 he inherited an empire stretching from Normandy to Aquitaine and in 1194 he went to war firstly with the King of France and then the Vicomte of Limoges. He died on 6th April 1199 at Châlus while laying siege to the Château of Chaâlus-Chabrol after having been woulded with a crossbow.

Every year Rochechouart holds a spectacular Vide Grenier (Car boot sale); stalls lining all the main streets.

Rochechouart Lake. Fishing, swimming, beach, café and spectacular landscape.

View of the town from the castle.

Rochechouart Médiathèque

We have a superb and lively Library here in Rochechouart, a magnificent building, superbly converted from the old railway station, and as the name suggests, it is much more than a library. There are games, films, computer access, training and lots of lively exhibitions and events.

The children love using computers

The twisted tower of the church seen through decorations for the Ostensions - religious celebrations held every seven years.

14 July Bastille day fireworks

You must not miss the spectacular Medieval Festival held in Rochechourt every summer. This year the date is the 14th August 2010.

The whole town is devoted to celebrating life as it would have been in those times. There are costume parades, dancing, music-making and song. the very animals of the time appear on the streets: wolves, ancient, and terrifying, breeds of dog, horses and pigs. The latter are to be found turning gently on spits over open fires, roasting deliciously. These are to be served as part of the medieval banquet held in the square at the foot of the great, imposing castle of Rochechouart, before the draw-bridge.