Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Tourtoirac

Tourtoirac became one of Uzerche’s most important possessions, a status confirmed on multiple occasions by the popes, from Lucius II (1144) to Paul V (1466). In 1114, Guy, Abbot of Tourtoirac, attended the foundation of the nearby Cistercian monastery of Dalon; in the future, both communities would maintain good relations. However, in the mid-14th century, Tourtoirac was severely affected by the Hundred Years’ War and entered a period of decline.

Today, the most notable remains of the monastery include the church, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, though it has suffered significant losses and reconstructions. Initially, it had a chevet with three apses arranged in a clover shape, but the central one has been lost. Between the two remaining apses, a tower rises. The main western façade features a 13th-century portal and is topped by a bell tower. The façade of the chapter house also survives, with double capitals likely from the 12th century. Within the abbey grounds, there is a second, very simple chapel, dating from the 12th–13th centuries, as well as auxiliary buildings from the modern era, such as the 18th-century abbatial residence.