Bussière-Badil - Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité

A priory had existed here already from 768 on. The Benedictine abbey was founded 1088, the church of today was built in the 12th century replacing a previous, smaller church, erected probably in the 10th century.

The abbey belonged to the Sacra di San Michele Abbey in Piedmont (more than 700 kms east). The church was strongly fortified and had battlements, watchtowers and even moats at that time.

Not only around the apse are nice corbels. Under the roof of the nave is this elephant. Medieval elephants are a really rare species, as only three elephants have been in Europe on medieval times.

- "Abul Abbas" (+810) owned by Charlemagne, a present from Harun al-Rashid.
- The so called "Cremona-elephant" owned by Frederik II in 1229, a present
from Al-Kamil al-Malik.

- The elephant brought to France by
Louis IX (Saint Louis) in 1255 on his return from the 6th cruisade and presented to Henry III. This elephant died in London 1258.