Exterior design of Medieval Houses
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Houses around and in the centre form part of the fortifications. Some of the buildings have towers. This was made to impress any intruders and outsiders but moreso to provide protection to the town in medieval times and thereafter. It provided good visability. The town compromised of two gates, one on either side of the centre of which one is nicely preserved on the south side-Porte Margot. Some visability of the north gate can be found between two houses behind the church.
Many houses have external stone stair-cases leading up to the living quarters. Below was used for keeping animals and harvests.
The town compromised of it's own water supplies from the hills and possibly had wells, fresh water springs and the River Correze winding beside the village.
Local stone was and is used as building material in Correze since ancient times. This is granite. Granite is taken from the country side and cut into large blocks or small slaps. The large blocks were used to build the actual houses, church and fortifications such as the Margot Porte (Gate). They were also used for internal features such as chinmee-breasts, door, window and hallway surrounds. The material is very hard and therefore solid and not easy to desintegrate. The walls of certain houses are about 1 metre in thickness. This allows the house to stay cool in the summer and keep the heat in during the harsh winter season.
Many houses have a status to be grand-type dwellings which can be further explored as you wander through the narrow coble-stone alleys and streets. Here signs on buildings stipulate specific history.
The roofs of buildings are made of slate. This slate comes from the Donzenac region, nearby Correze and is considered to be one of the best quality slate that's around. It's lifespell is estimated to last for 300-500 years. Renovation projects continue using this slate.
The majority of houses compromise of external wooden-shutters, which have multiple functions. For a start they keep the hot summer sun out, it supports in keeping the houses warm too in winter time and not to forget it is essential on a hot summers evening of keeping the bats out but still want a bit of a breeze!
The locals enjoy their pot-plants and flowers, especially the windowsill hanging geraniums which give this place a special feeling of cosiness.
