Javerlhac-et-la-Chapelle-Saint-Robert; visitor guide

Photo of Javerlhac-et-la-Chapelle-Saint-Robert

Visit Javerlhac-et-la-Chapelle-Saint-Robert

Javerlhac-et-la-Chapelle-Saint-Robert is a picturesque village on the road between Angouleme and Nontron in the north of the Dordogne. It is in the area known as the Perigord Vert.

Explore Javerlhac-et-la-Chapelle-Saint-Robert

Javerlhac-et-la-Chapelle-Saint-Rober is a quiet village with a beautiful old centre on the edge of the Bandiat river. Here the 16th century Javerlhac castle is situated next to the church of Saint Stephen. The church dates back to the 12th century with 16th century modifications and is Romanesque in style.

Inside the church is a tomb with the laying down statues of a man and a woman. These are thought to date back to the 14 and 15th centuries.

The church and castle are close to the Bandiat river and on the edge of the river is a water mill used to extract walnut oil. This is the Moulin Martin and has a large water wheel.

There are a number of pretty houses on the rivers edge and also a large pigeonnier which makes the riverside setting very pretty.

Also on the river is an old royal forge called Forgeneuve. This dates back to the 18th century and was used to make cannons.

At the other end of the village is the newer part of town with the mairie and several shops and bars. Also of note in Javerlhac-et-la-Chapelle-Saint-Robert is the 19th century manor house, the Manoir du Logis, and also the domaine de Jommelieres which is a manor house and forge that also dates to the second half of the 19th century.

About three kilometers from Javerlhac is the church of the Chapelle-Saint-Robert with origins in the 12th century. It was originally the chapel of a Benedictine Priory. It is a Romanesque building with a lovely square bell tower that is 27 meters high.

Inside you can see a medieval painting of the baptism of Christ as well as sculpted capitals on the columns of the windows and doors.

Javerlhac-et-la-Chapelle-Saint-Robert is in the heart of the Regional Natural Park of Perigord-Limousin. Along the river valley in particular there is a wide variety of fauna and flora in the park.

Javerlhac was the birthplace of Fernard Desmoulin (1853-1914). He was a well known mediumistic artist and some of his work is on display at the Fernard Desmoulin museum in the Abbey of Brantome.

In the 16th century Francoise de la Chassaigne, daughter of a lord of Javerlhac married Michel de Montaigne, the famous French philosopher. The Chateau de Montaigne in the west of the Dordogne is open to visitors.

Attractions nearby

Brantome is a very beautiful village not far from Javerlhac-et-la-Chapelle-Saint-Robert. It has a beautiful setting in a deep bend of the Dronne river.