Turenne, one of six plus
beaux villages de France in the Correze, was until 1728 the
seat of the all powerful Vicomtes de Turenne, the family
that pretty much dominated mediaeval history in these parts.
Independant of the kings of France, the vicomtes ruled some
1200 towns and villages, owning many thousands of acres. Which gives
you some idea of where their wealth came from. The Turenne peasants
were relatively well off in as much as they were exempt from paying
tithes to the Church or taxes to layers of minor nobility... just
to les vicomtes.
It did not stop them from wrecking the castle come the Revolution,
however! Check out the view from the Tour de César.
