Bretenoux

Location: On the river Cère, 10km from St Céré.
Restaurants and shops: Markets on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, shops, cafés and a couple of restaurants.
Supermarkets: Lidl and Leclerc at nearby Biars-sur-Cère
In a nutshell: A thriving small town with lots of history, best visited on market days. After visiting Bretenoux why not continue via Biars-sur-Cère to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne.

The small bastide town of Bretenoux was founded in 1277 by the seigneur of Castelnau. One of the most northern bastide towns in France, it is built in a square grid pattern alongside the river Cère.

In the heart of the town is the charming cobbled market place with arcades on two sides.

Not far away is the imposing chateau of Castelnau Bretenoux, open to visitors all the year round and an impressive setting for many concerts and exhibitions in summer. A visit to the chateau is highly recommended. Guided tours are usually in French only.

A St Jacques pilgrim path from Auvergne to Rocamadour passes through the village and through the tiny hamlet of Félines in the commune of Prudhomat with its tiny chapel dedicated to St Marie next to what looks at first sight like an imposing barn, in fact the former parish church of Bretenoux up until 1808.

	Markets are held every Tuesday and Saturday mornings.
	A fair is held annually on or around St Catherine's Day in November.
	St Catherine's Day fair: cattle farmers in the square.
	The chateau of Castelnau Bretenoux, viewed from the west, near Bretenoux
	The castle viewed from the east
	The former parish church of Bretenoux up to 1808 can be found at Prudhomat on the pilgrim route to Rocamadour. Damaged in the wars of religion, rebuilt in the early 17th century then pillaged during the revolution it was sold in 1836 and became a stable and barn. It now belongs to a local association.