Fanlac, a pretty Dordogne village and setting of the Jacquou le Croquant novel

Visit Fanlac

Fanlac is a lovely little village just 7km from Montignac and the Lascaux Caves. Strangely enough I had never heard of Fanlac before but it turns out to be the village where Jacquou le Croquant grew up and was the location for the Jacquou le Croquant television series. More recently, in 2007, the film has been released and proved very popular in France.

Explore Fanlac

Fanlac is a very attractive village, one of those where if you were offered the chance to live in any of the houses you just wouldn't know which one to pick as they are all so attractive. Built of the lovely golden Dordogne stone and many roofed in 'lauzes', a stone roof tile which whilst once quite common in the area is becoming very rare.

The oldest house in the village has elements from the 13th century and others from the 14 and 15th century.

In the centre of the village is a 12th century fortified church. There is also a 12th century cross and a well both adding to the charm of the centre. The Presbytere next to the church is the home of the fictional Jacquou le Croquant figure after he is rescued by the Curé Bonal.

Walking round the village there are some lovely pigeonniers to see and almost every house seems to have a letter box in the form of a little round stone cabanes, even the main village post box!

On a sad note there is a barn in the village which was the site of a brutal attack by Nazis of the Brehmer division. For having harbored members of the resistance, 71 year old Jeanne Aubarbier and 77 year old Gabriel Aubarbier were sexually assaulted, beaten to death and burnt on the 30 March 1944.

Also to note in the village is the large country house that was used as the Maison du Chevalier Galibert and his sister in the film. Pick up a leaflet from the tourist office to find the different locations in the village.

Fanlac is popular with artists and there are a number of artist studios in the village and also a nice restaurant called Le Croquant.

Jacquou le Croquant

Jacquou le Croquant is a novel by Eugene Le Roy which is set in the Perigord and specifically around Fanlac and the Chateau de l'Herm in 1815. Jacquou is born to a servant in the household of the evil Count of Nansac. Following his father's imprisonment and death at the hands of the Count, Jacquou is forced to flee and at death's door is rescued by the Curé Bonal and brought up as an altar boy.

Various confrontations between Jacquou and the Count follow with Jacquou eventually defeating the count and his injustices. In 2007 it was made into a very popular French movie and won 2 cesars.

The village has seen an influx of visitors both following the tv miniseries in 1969 and more recently following the film's success.

On the edge of the village are two chateaux. The Chateau d'Auberoch is on the south of the village and has been built over various centuries. It has two imposing round towers with crenallated tops.

To the north is the elegant Chateau du Sablou which was built in the 18th century. This served as an internment camp for communists in 1940 but today is open to holiday guests and as a wedding location.

Places to visit near Fanlac

The chateau de L'Herm was built in the 15th century. It fell into ruin after a crime was committed there and is now in the process of restoration. It can be visited between the beginning of April and 11 November. The chateau de l'Herm was the birthplace of Jacquou in the book.

Fanlac is close to the fabulous Lascaux Caves and also to the Le Thot prehistory museum which includes a reproduction of a section of paintings that are not on display at Lascaux. The very pretty Chateau de Losse is also nearby and has particularly pretty gardens to explore.