Overlooked by the chateau of St-Laurent-Les-Tours,
St. Céré grew up around the St Sperie chapel, founded
in the 10thC. Ramparts (now gone) were built to fortify the town
in 1464.
A protestant stonghold during the religious wars, St Cere with
its wealth of fine half timbered merchants houses, boasts not one,
but three Places... Place d'Eglise, Place de République
and Place Mercadial. Check out the Louis X111 buildings
and also the ancient Poissonniere in Place Mercadial...
with its mediaeval street stone 'counters' still in place.
Subject to flooding, the town councillors called in a dutchman
in the 17th Century to tame the river and he promptly canalised
it (well he would, wouldn't he, being Dutch!). It seems to have
worked.
With plenty of restaurants and pavement cafés to while away
an hour or three, St. Céré is one of those small French
"county towns" that doesn't close in the winter, unlike
many a ville in France! Check out the summer Music Festival.
