Heritage

Caesar Tower

This tower dates from the 13th century. It is built to a circular plan which is rare in the Limousin. There are six storeys, with battlements on the top storey added in the 15th or 16th century. The ground floor was used as a store room and sometimes as a prison. The living quarters were on the third floor and had a large window opening and the only internal staircase in the building.

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The Manoir des Tours

The Manoir is built on the old Allassac to Donzenac road. Originally there were two wings and two towers, but the wing on the street side no longer exists.
The oldest parts are 16th century. In the 18th century several doors and windows were added opening on to the garden.

Where ?
Rue de la Grande Fontaine.

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Primary school

The school was built in 1936 as the town school for boys. It is now the town primary school.
The main construction is in rough slate with contrasting lighter white limestone used for the door and window surrounds.

War Memory Hall

This hall in memory of the veterans of the First World War was built in 1925.
The hall was used for showing films and as a meeting room.

Where?
Avenue de l’Hôtel de ville.

Roffignac Castle

The engraving is based on a 19^th century model of the castle as it was in the 15^th century, with two turrets, a store room and a larger tower. At the beginning of the 19^th century much of the building was demolished, and all that remains is the store room and the northern turret.
The town hall and the school are built on the site of the former castle.

Where ?
Rue de la Liberté.

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The railway

The engraving is based on a 19^th century model of the castle as it was in the 15^th century, with two turrets, a store room and a larger tower. At the beginning of the 19^th century much of the building was demolished, and all that remains is the store room and the northern turret. The town hall and the school are built on the site of the former castle.

Where ?
1 Avenue de la gare.

Former girls’ school

The engraving is based on a 19^th century model of the castle as it was in the 15^th century, with two turrets, a store room and a larger tower. At the beginning of the 19^th century much of the building was demolished, and all that remains is the store room and the northern turret. The town hall and the school are built on the site of the former castle.

Where ?
2 Rue Jean Cariven.

The weighbridge

The weighbridge was built in 1936 to serve the needs of local markets and fairs. The hut protects the mechanism of the weighbridge outside. Opposite the weighbridge is the former hospital, built in 1908/1909.

Where?
Avenue Général Leclerc.

The Church of St. John the Baptist

The church has two romanesque doorways in sandstone. Slate from local quarries was used to built the nave and bell tower.
At the side of the bell tower is a 14th century fortified stair turret.
The interior has been altered in the gothic style, but there are interesting older fixtures, including a large 17th century carved altarpiece/reredos.

The slate quarries

Since the middle ages slate for building has been quarried here, and in the 19th century the slate industry became very important.
The quarries in Allassac were 60 to 100 metres deep.
In the 20th century the slate industry gradually declined as cheaper building materials became available and the local slate could only be worked by hand so costs were high nd production was slow.
Recently slate quarrying has started again in Allassac.