Boucle des Floralies Saint-Jean-de-Cole Plus Beaux villages de France

The medieval village of Saint-Jean-de-cole is part of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France", the only one in the Green Perigord, since 1983. Its priory dating from the 11th century and its church with its unusual architecture, dating from the beginning of the 12th century are remarkably well preserved. These two buildings have historically been under the protection of the nearby Marthonie castle, which sits on the square. The Romanesque-Byzantine church of St John the Baptist was built in the 12th century. It contains beautiful paintings and a polychrome stone virgin from the 17th century. At the end of the village, near the old mill, a medieval bridge with two spouts spans the river Cole. This prestigious architectural ensemble is completed by the old houses of the village, some of which are half-timbered. The village is on a side road of the Route de St Jacques de Compostelle.