Curemonte (French pronunciation: [kyʁmɔ̃t]; Limousin: Curamonta) is a commune in the Corrèze department in central France. It is a medieval village characterised by its three castles. In a fortified position on a ridge overlooking a valley on both its eastern and western flanks, the village has historically had a strategic importance in the area. Curemonte is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) Association. Its inhabitants are called Curemontois.

Curemonte
The Château des Plas, in Curemonte
The Château des Plas, in Curemonte
Coat of arms of Curemonte
Location of Curemonte
Map
Curemonte is located in France
Curemonte
Curemonte
Curemonte is located in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Curemonte
Curemonte
Coordinates: 45°00′00″N 1°44′27″E / 44.9999°N 1.7409°E / 44.9999; 1.7409
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentCorrèze
ArrondissementBrive-la-Gaillarde
CantonMidi Corrézien
IntercommunalityMidi Corrézien
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Nelly Germane[1]
Area
1
8.83 km2 (3.41 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
212
 • Density24/km2 (62/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
19067 /19500
Elevation143 m (469 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Toponymy

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The name for Curemonte is derived from low Latin Cura montis meaning a location used for an operating estate that's on a mountain or hill.[3]: 25 

History

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The existence of Curemonte is confirmed from as early as 860 when it was mentioned in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Beaulieu.[3]: 25  Rodolphe de Turenne, Archbishop of Bourges, had donated the village of Saint-Genst and its vineyards at Curemonte to the Abbey of Beaulieu.[3]: 25 

It was in the 11th century that the village flourished, passing through the Viscounts of Turenne.

Geography

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Location

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The municipality of Curemonte is located at the southern end of the department of Corrèze.

 
Map of the commune.

Physical geography

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The village of Curemonte is built on a ridge line that overlooks the valleys of the Sourdoire and the Maumont.

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 311—    
1975 248−3.18%
1982 231−1.01%
1990 203−1.60%
1999 225+1.15%
2009 213−0.55%
2014 216+0.28%
2020 208−0.63%
Source: INSEE[4]

Places and monuments

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  • It is ranked among the most beautiful villages in France.
  • It has three castles:
  • It has three churches:
    • Church of Saint-Barthélemy du Bourg;
    • Church of Saint-Hilaire de la Combe: 11th Century Romanesque church, one of the oldest in the department, which was probably built on Merovingian foundations;
    • The church of Saint-Genest: former parish church, now a Museum of Religious Art.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 9 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Lalé, Jean (1994). Curemonte. Chronique d'une Renaissance (in French). Treignac: Les Monédières. ISBN 2-903438-11-X. OCLC 12134959. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ Base Mérimée: Châteaux de Saint-Hilaire et des Plas, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  6. ^ Base Mérimée: Château de la Johannie, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)