Plaisance: Municipal History and Cultural Landscape

Those looking for a hotel in Plaisance can also understand the destination through the history and landscape of the municipality it belongs to. The local histories lead to Eyrenville, Falgueyrat and Mandacou. Together, they offer a layered picture of municipal history, religious architecture and local traditions, with different points of interest for planning a trip.

Municipal History and Historic Sites

Plaisance was formed on 1 December 1972 through the merger of the villages of Eyrenville, Falgueyrat and Mandacou. The three municipalities joined together at the time to promote joint projects and ensure a shared administration. On 17 January 2010, the three former municipalities voted in a referendum to unite. The two dates mark different stages in the municipality’s history: the first marks the creation of Plaisance, and the second the later referendum decision.

The history of each individual place also has its own distinct features. At the end of the Middle Ages, in the 15th century, and after the Reformation in the 16th century, Eyrenville was held in fief from the Seigneur-Doyen of Issigeac, who in turn was subject to the suzerainty of the Bishop of Sarlat. Falgueyrat is recorded as having formerly depended on Cadelech; its inclusion in the Seigneurie of Cahuzac is considered probable. These historical ties give the place names different points of reference, rather than reducing the municipality to a single story.

Churches and Architectural Heritage

Eyrenville has a Romanesque-Gothic church that was restored in the 19th century and houses an 18th-century altarpiece. Mandacou has a church in the Romanesque-Byzantine style. The descriptions of the two villages offer a direct comparison of religious architecture within the municipality: in Eyrenville, architectural style, restoration and the altarpiece come together, while Mandacou’s Romanesque-Byzantine design is its distinctive feature.

Other features in Eyrenville include numerous wrought-iron and wooden wayside crosses. Mandacou has fountains and a dovecote. These smaller architectural features complement the churches by offering clues to the local character of each place. They make the differences between the villages tangible beyond their respective architectural histories, without requiring a single focus for the municipality as a whole.

Landscape, Stone and Local Produce

The landscape of the municipality of Plaisance is shaped by gentle hills and valleys, with a mosaic of cultivated fields. Several trails run through the municipality. Its territory also contains numerous ZNIEFF sites, French natural areas of ecological, faunal and floristic interest. Together, these details portray both the cultivated landscape shaped by people and the municipality’s natural environment.

Mandacou lies on a limestone plateau and is associated with a historically renowned vineyard. At the same time, a local company continues the area’s long tradition of stone quarrying. The vineyard and quarrying represent different local connections: one belongs to the history of winegrowing, while the other is a continuing craft tradition. At Aux Délices de la Ferme in Eyrenville, visitors can find homemade preserves, wine and products from other local producers. This adds a tangible connection to locally available products to the historical and landscape themes.

The differences between Eyrenville, Falgueyrat and Mandacou give the municipality several distinctive facets, without limiting it to a single attraction or theme.

Discover more destinations: Lolme, Saint-Front-d'Alemps, Jayac, Capdrot, Notre-Dame-De-Sanilhac, Campsegret, Javerlhac-Et-La-Chapelle-Saint-Robert, Salagnac

For the broader travel guide: Dordogne.