Collonges-la-Rouge - Saint-Pierre

Collonges-la-Rouge is picturesque, small village that is entirely built with red sandstone, It is one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France", what means that in the summer months the village is much more tourists than inhabitants, as the population is well below 500.

A priory, dependent from the Benedictian Abbey of Charroux (Poitou Charentes) existed here. When pilgrims passed through Collognes on their way to Rocamadour, the convent prospered for a while. After the French Revolution the buildings of the priory were sold and demolished. The church was saved - now serves the parish.

Saint-Pierre was erected within the 11th/12th centuries. Alterations were undertaken during the Wars of Religion, when fortifications were needed.

One of the capitals depicts a hunter - and a bear with a kind of safety leash. This cannot be a dancing bear. I have seen lots of hunting-dogs, but never a hunting-bear. There was a bear with a similar leash in Carennac the other day.