Bordeaux to Verteillac with a private driver
A village in the Périgord Vert with a rich feudal history: a seigneury that was divided for two centuries, a family—the La Brousse family—who rose to prominence at the court of Louis XIV, and a castle that was razed to the ground during the Revolution. Formerly the canton seat, it now has 547 residents. About 1 hour and 50 minutes from Bordeaux.
Verteillac at a Glance
- Verteillac (Verteillacois) is a village in the Ribérac area, in the Dordogne (24320), in the Périgord Vert—formerly the canton seat from 1790 to 2015, now part of the Ribérac canton. INSEE code 24573.
- An area of 18.44 km² in the hills between the Auzonne and Lizonne rivers, reaching a maximum elevation of 187 m; 547 residents in 2023, a sharp decline (−18.6% since 2017).
- A name ending in “-ac”: a Gallo-Roman estate—but, contrary to what is sometimes claimed, the name of the ancient owner is not established by the available sources.
- Its town features a regular pattern which suggests a new town; local history refers to it as a “bastide,” but no scholarly source confirms this.
- Its church is a former Casadian priory (affiliated with the Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu), of which only the 12th-century Romanesque choir remains; the nave was rebuilt in 1869.
- For a long time, the seigneury was divided between two lineages (the Salagnacs, then the La Brousse family), which gave rise to the local belief that there were two castles, the “upper” and the “lower.”
- The village’s pride: Nicolas de La Brousse, Count of Verteillac, a pupil of Vauban, whom Louis XIV is said to have called “the finest infantry officer” since Turenne—his bust stands in Versailles.
- From Bordeaux: ~126 km, about 1 hour and 50 minutes by car—starting at 225 € for a chauffeured transfer, door-to-door. No train station.
Before You Go: What Verteillac Really Is
One summer evening, in the town square of Verteillac. The town is quiet, its pale stone houses lined up along streets that intersect at right angles. In the central square, a war memorial stands where, it is said, the castle of the Counts of Verteillac once stood—a fortress razed during the Revolution, of which nothing remains. Nothing, except for a single phrase: the one in which Louis XIV, upon learning of the death of one of the local lords, is said to have compared him to the great Turenne. Such is Verteillac: a small village in the Périgord Vert whose history is far greater than its size.
Verteillac is a village in the Ribérac area, a hilly region in the northwest of the Dordogne, shaped by the Dronne River and its tributaries. Its history is a feudal one: a divided lordship held for two centuries by two families, including the La Brousse family, which rose to prominence at the court of Louis XIV, and a stately castle that was wiped off the map during the Revolution. All of this is set in a town with a distinctive geometric layout, which long served as the canton seat and market town for the region.
Distinguishing Fact from Fiction
This guide distinguishes between verified facts and folklore—and in Verteillac, local folklore plays a major role. We read that the village is said to be a “bastide,” that its name comes from a “Vertel,” that it is said to have had two castles, and that a count was “trained at Vauban’s military academy”… None of these claims is firmly established (in fact, the “History” section on Wikipedia is empty). We therefore present them with caution, relying on what is certain: the Casadean priory, the de La Brousse family, the royal commendation, and the episode from the Revolution.
In terms of access, Verteillac is a rural village with no train station—the nearest town, Ribérac, no longer has passenger train service. You can get there by car; it’s about 1 hour and 50 minutes from Bordeaux. To explore this secluded corner of the Périgord Vert, hiring a chauffeur service from Bordeaux remains the simplest door-to-door option.
A village nestled in the hills of the Ribérac region
Verteillac occupies the northwestern quarter of the Dordogne, right in the heart of the Ribérac area—the border between the Périgord and the Angoumois regions. The town lies at an elevation of about 130 meters, on a hill overlooking the surrounding area. The municipality is part of the Périgueux district and the Périgord Ribéracois Community of Municipalities.
The territory, covering 18.44 km² (18.53 according to the IGN), rises from 79 meters along the Sauvanie River in the west to 187 meters at a place called Le Maine in the east. The Sauvanie—a small tributary of the Lizonne, which is itself a tributary of the Dronne—rises nearby in Cherval and runs along the edge of the municipality. The landscape is predominantly agricultural: arable land and farmland cover nearly 81% of the territory, with settlements scattered in hamlets (Le Pontis, Les Siguenies, Le Repaire, La Gassoulie) around a compact town center.
| Data | Value |
|---|---|
| ZIP Code / INSEE | 24320 / 24573 |
| Natural Region | Ribérac area, Périgord Vert |
| Borough | Périgueux |
| Area | 18.44 km² |
| Elevation | 79 m (Sauvanie) to 187 m (Le Maine) |
| Waterways | the Sauvanie (a tributary of the Lizonne) |
| Population | 547 residents (2023) — the residents of Verteillac |
| Density | ~30 people per square kilometer |
| Status | Canton seat, 1790–2015 |
La Sauvanie, fourteen kilometers toward the Dordogne
La Sauvanie is worth a closer look, because the figures circulating about it confuse two different things. The river itself is about 14.4 kilometers long; the “17 km” sometimes cited actually refers to the municipality’s total waterway network (including all streams), not the river itself. Originating in Cherval, barely two kilometers south of the village, the Sauvanie runs along the edge of and through the territory of Verteillac before joining the Lizonne at an elevation of about 50 meters, on the border between the municipalities of Allemans and Saint-Paul-Lizonne. From there, its waters flow into the Dronne, then the Isle, and eventually into the Dordogne: this small stream in the Ribérac region is, step by step, part of the river’s vast basin. The lowest point in the municipality (79 meters) is located along its course, downstream from the village.
Finding Your Way: Coordinates and Measurements
On the map, the village is located at 45°20′53″ north and 0°22′01″ east—a location that places it on the western edge of the Périgord, very close to the Charente. Here’s a fun fact for data enthusiasts: two different area measurements coexist for the municipality—18.44 km² according to the land registry and 18.53 km² according to the IGN’s BD Topo database. This is not a contradiction, but rather the normal discrepancy between two measurement systems—both figures are “correct,” each within its own system.
A sharply declining population
The demographic data for Verteillac illustrates the decline of rural areas in the Périgord Vert. After peaking at 724 residents in 1982, the population has been declining steadily: 547 residents in 2023, or −18.6% in just six years (compared to 2017), and a level that is now lower than that of 1962 (683 residents). The village is very old—more than half of its residents were 60 years of age or older in 2018, which contributes to a negative natural population balance, exacerbated by the fact that small towns are less attractive than Ribérac or Périgueux.
Sixty Years of Demographic Trends
The INSEE's long-term time series makes it possible to pinpoint exactly when this shift occurred. Notably, the decline is not a slow, long-term trend, but a sharp recent decline—the town still had 673 residents in 2016, compared with 546 in 2022, or approximately −19% in just six years. And the age-based structure explains how it works: in 2018, 50.8% of Verteillac residents were 60 years old or older, when people under 30 accounted for only 18,5 % of the population—an imbalance that, year after year, contributes to the negative natural increase.
| Year | Population | Landmark |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Population: 683 | postwar level |
| 1968 | Population: 655 | slight settling |
| 1975 | Population: 652 | near-stability |
| 1982 | Population: 724 | all-time high |
| 2016 | Population: 673 | before the sharp decline |
| 2022 | Population: 546 | ~−19% over six years |
| 2023 | Population: 547 | below the 1962 level |
A name ending in “-ac,” a plan that intrigues
Like hundreds of towns in southwestern France, Verteillac has a name ending in “-ac,” derived from the Latin suffix -acum, which denotes “the estate of” someone—a hallmark of a Gallo-Roman agricultural estate. The mechanism is clear, but we must be honest about one thing: the name of the ancient owner remains unknown. It is sometimes suggested that it might have been a Germanic “Vertel”; no toponymic source confirms this, and no ancient Latin form of this type has been found. The Occitan form of the village is Vertelhac, and medieval records refer to it as Verteilhacum (a 13th-century manuscript).
The town has another interesting feature: a regular grid pattern, with streets intersecting at right angles around a central square. This layout is reminiscent of the “bastides,” those new towns founded in the Southwest. Local history, in fact, readily refers to Verteillac as a “bastide” founded at the end of the Hundred Years’ War. But caution is warranted: no scholarly source classifies it as a bastide, and the true bastides were founded between 1222 and 1373—well before the 15th century. It is therefore better to refer to it as a town with a regular layout, without making a definitive judgment about its exact status.
What the Medieval Archives Tell Us
The oldest surviving spellings come from church documents. A 13th-century *pouillé*—one of those inventories of ecclesiastical benefices—records the place as *Verteilhacum* in Latin; “Eccl. de Verteilhaco” is also found in the 13th century, followed by “Prior de Verteilhaco” in 1382, a reference to the prior of the town. As for the relationship between the French “Verteillac” and the Occitan Vertelhac, it must be stated correctly: one does not “come from” the other—the two forms are parallel spellings derived from the same Gallo-Roman name, each following the specific evolution of its own language. Another established fact: the town retains a geometric layout that has changed very little, making its urban structure still very clear today.
The church, a former Casadean priory
The site’s religious history is ancient and better documented than the rest. The church at Verteillac was a Casadian priory—that is, one under the jurisdiction of the powerful Benedictine Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu in Auvergne. Archival records mention it in the 13th century (“Prior of Verteilhaco” in 1382); local tradition traces it back to the 11th century, but this early reference is not confirmed by heritage records.
A multi-phase structure
Contrary to what is sometimes claimed, the building was not “rebuilt in a single phase” after the Hundred Years’ War. It is a multi-phase structure: the only surviving original feature is the 12th-century Romanesque choir. The nave, which was once vaulted with domes (until 1811), was demolished and then rebuilt in 1869 by the architect Mandin, with the church consecrated in 1872, its apse restored in 1894, and its bell tower erected in 1899. Most of what we see today, therefore, dates from the 19th century.
The mention of the lost domes is no myth: according to the research of de Verneilh and de Secret, the nave was covered with them until 1811, before they were demolished. Verteillac thus belonged to this group of Périgord churches with rows of domes—of which the nearby town of Ribérac still preserves examples—before losing this feature in the 19th century.
Neither classified nor registered
Useful information for visitors: The church is neither classified nor listed as a historic monument (it appears only in the General Inventory). The only protected building in the town is actually the Château de la Meyfrenie, a 19th-century mansion.
A shared fiefdom, two castles?
The feudal characteristic of Verteillac can be summed up in one word: co-seignory. For about two hundred years, beginning at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, the seignory was not held by a single family but was shared between two lineages. This system, common in medieval Périgord, resulted from alliances or divided inheritances: two noble houses shared rights, revenues, and sometimes judicial authority over the same territory. At Verteillac, the Salagnac (or Salignac) family appears as co-lords, allied with the House of La Tour. The official catalogs of the Departmental Archives list several collections related to the seigneury and the castle of Verteillac (index consulted on July 24, 2026), though this does not establish the hypothesis of two castles as a proven fact.
Two castles, one hypothesis
From this dual administration, local history draws an intriguing hypothesis: Verteillac may have had two distinct castles—an “upper castle” on the hill above the village and a “lower castle.” The idea makes sense—when two families share an estate, each may want its own fortified residence. But let’s be clear: this is a hypothesis, not an established fact. These castles have disappeared and do not appear in any inventories of historic monuments, and the only physical trace of this shared seigneury is a heraldic stone (a quartered shield bearing the coats of arms of Salagnac and La Tour, dating from the second half of the 15th century), reused in houses built with stones from the demolished castle.
The co-seigneury came to an end over the course of the 16th and 17th centuries, as the seigneury was reorganized under a single authority. It passed to the de Gontaut family, then, in the mid-17th century, to the La Brousse family—who would bear the name Verteillac until the seigneury reached the height of its prestige.
The La Brousse Family: a Count Praised by Louis XIV
The history of Verteillac shifts to the 17th century with the arrival of a noble family from the Périgord region, the La Brousse family, who would bring the village's name all the way to the court of Versailles. The key figure in this rise to prominence was Thibaud de La Brousse (born in 1610), Lord of La Pouyade, ennobled by letters patent in 1644. He is the one who acquired the seigneury of Verteillac on July 13, 1656, by purchasing it from Jean de Gontaut d'Auriole—and not in 1644, as is often stated (1644 being the date of his ennoblement). He then united the two branches of the former co-seigneury, died in Verteillac in 1681, and bequeathed to the town his motto, which remains on its coat of arms: “Never turn back.”
Nicolas de La Brousse, Count and Pupil of Vauban
His son, Nicolas de La Brousse (1645–1693), Count of Verteillac, chose a military career. Notably, Vauban personally taught him the art of fortification during a trip to Lille and Tournai (contrary to popular belief, there was never a “Vauban military school”). Nicolas served under Turenne from 1673 to 1675, became a brigadier general in 1691, and later served as governor of the fortress of Mons and the Hainaut region, before dying in battle in 1693.
The well-documented dates of his career paint a picture of an exemplary life during the Grand Siècle. Born on October 11, 1645, he was appointed brigadier general on April 26, 1691, during the War of the League of Augsburg, and later governed the fortress of Mons and Hainaut, a strategic location that had just been conquered. He was killed on July 4, 1693, at Boussu-lez-Walcourt, in Hainaut, on the kingdom's front lines. It was this death in battle, at the age of 47, that prompted the royal tribute.
It was at the time of his death that the most famous episode in the history of Verteillac took place. Louis XIV himself is said to have remarked to the count’s widow: “ In the Verteillac regiment, I lost the finest infantry officer I've had since Marshal de Turenne.” Comparing a minor rural nobleman to the greatest strategist of the century is a compliment of the rarest kind. One caveat, however: no official royal archives are cited here. The statement is attributed to a panegyric of 1693; in the absence of a verified official copy of this text, it is presented as a historiographical tradition, not as an established royal decree. Nicolas’s prestige was nonetheless very real: his bust is on display in the Gallery of Battles at the Palace of Versailles.
A Carmelite nun founded the first school
The noble family left behind more than just military exploits. The first known school in Verteillac was established on September 15, 1662 — barely six years after the purchase of the estate — by Jeanne de Labrousse, a Carmelite nun and widow of Jean de Salignac, Count of Rochefort. Her endowment was considerable for a village of this size: a large house, a garden, and two farmsteads, donated to support the school. At a time when rural education depended on the whims of individual vocations, this foundation—endowed with its own land revenues—was a remarkable achievement and one of the earliest milestones in the town’s civic life.
The rise continued into the 18th century
The family continued its rise in the 18th century: it purchased the barony of La Tour-Blanche in 1738 and acquired a château near Paris. It was only at this time that one of its members, César-Pierre de La Brousse (1729–1805), began calling himself the Marquis de Verteillac—a courtesy title, not officially conferred, and one that came long after Nicolas, who was never anything more than a count.
1791–1830: The Castle Destroyed by the Revolution
The fate of the Château de Verteillac took a dramatic turn during the Revolution. In 1791–1792, César de La Brousse, then head of the seigneury, chose to emigrate, as did thousands of nobles. The consequence was immediate: revolutionary law placed the property of émigrés under sequestration, and the old castle—the lords’ residence for over a century—was subsequently sold as national property.
Where the castle once stood
Where exactly did this castle stand? Sources differ. According to a widely held local tradition, it stood “at the top of the square, on the site of the current war memorial”—which would mean that every villager, when paying their respects there, would be standing in the very spot where Nicolas de La Brousse once lived. However, the official heritage listing places it instead on the current fairgrounds (POP/Mérimée IA24000900, accessed July 24, 2026), “surrounded by the public market hall” in 1793. In the absence of any physical remains, the two locations are considered to coexist.
Thirty-five years of legal battles
What sets Verteillac apart is the tenacity of the legal battle waged to reclaim the property. After César’s death (1805), his son François took over the lawsuit against the municipality. He won the case in 1826 and took actual possession in 1830—but the victory came too late: a demolition order followed, along with the liquidation of all the family’s assets, both at Verteillac and at La Tour-Blanche. Thus, after nearly two centuries, the La Brousse family’s presence came to an end. The château, for its part, was never rebuilt.
The Ribéracois and the Lost Fortifications
The Château des La Brousse is just one link in a much older defensive system, of which the Ribérac region still retains subtle traces. The area features motte-and-bailey castles—those artificial mounds from the early Middle Ages that supported a wooden tower, predating stone castles by several centuries.
Grésignac and Bourzac, Guardians of the Lizonne
A clarification is in order, as one sometimes reads “three mounds at Verteillac”: the mounds listed in the area—that of Grésignac and that of Bourzac — are in fact not within the Verteillac territory, but in the neighboring towns of La Chapelle-Grésignac and Nanteuil-Auriac-de-Bourzac. They guarded the Lizonne Valley, the border between the Périgord and the Angoumois regions—Bourzac, incidentally, was founded by a bishop of Angoulême in the 11th century. A hiking trail, “Along the Castle Mounds,” connects these sites.
The history of Bourzac can even be dated with a precision rarely found for these earthen structures: the motte was founded by a bishop of Angoulême between approximately 1043 and 1076, and the site appears under the name “castellum Bordacum” as early as 1100. A telling detail: these motte-and-bailey castles are historically linked to the Angoumois region, not the Périgord—proof that the Lizonne Valley was indeed, as early as the 11th century, a militarized border between the two provinces, with Verteillac occupying the Périgord hinterland.
Coutures, the fortress that stood until 1793
Another nearby fortress with a tragic fate: the fortified castle of Coutures, about 3 km away, in the neighboring town, adjacent to the Church of Saint-Saturnin. Far from being an abandoned medieval ruin, it was still standing in 1793—“two crenellated towers with embrasures still stood at either end of the main building”—before it, too, disappeared in the midst of the Revolution. The Ribérac region thus offers a unique heritage landscape: that of a territory rich in vanished fortifications, ranging from forgotten earthworks to castles wiped off the map.
What to See Around Verteillac
Verteillac is a convenient base for exploring the Ribérac region and the Périgord Vert. Here are the actual driving distances from the town center:
| Destination | Distance / time from Verteillac | Interest |
|---|---|---|
| The White Tower | ~10 km · ~12 min | Former barony of La Brousse, castle town |
| Ribérac | ~13 km · ~15 min | Capital of the Ribérac region, market, Romanesque churches with domes |
| Nontron | ~30 km · ~35 min | Knives, Périgord-Limousin, Regional Nature Park |
| Brantôme | ~35 km · ~40 min | Abbaye, the “Venice of the Périgord” on the Dronne River |
| Angoulême | ~40 km · ~45 min | Comic Book City, city walls, cathedral |
| Périgueux | ~49 km · ~52 min | Gallo-Roman Vesunna, Saint-Front Cathedral |
A useful geographical note for planning: the “as the crow flies” distances listed in the descriptions can be misleading. Périgueux is listed as being “33 km northwest” of Verteillac — but by road, it takes 48.9 km and about 52 minutes, the hilly terrain, and the lack of a major direct route, which significantly lengthens travel times. To put it another way: back when it was a canton, its seat (now ~547 residents) accounted for only about one-eighth of the 4,494 residents living in the 17 municipalities combined in 2011—Verteillac has always been a small town governing a territory much larger than itself.
The Ribérac region is home to Romanesque churches with domes and gentle valleys (Dronne, Lizonne). Set apart from the major attractions of the Périgord Noir, it is an authentic countryside, ideal for those seeking tranquility and rural heritage.
Getting to Verteillac from Bordeaux
Verteillac is about 126 km from Bordeaux, or about 1 hour and 50 minutes by car. The village is off the main roads and has no train station; it is accessible only by car.
| Mode | Duration | Estimated cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Chauffeur | ~1 hour 50 minutes | Starting at 225 € · one-way | Door-to-door service from Bordeaux, with stops at your choice (Ribérac, La Dronne) |
| Personal car | ~1 hour 50 minutes | ~24-30 € for gas and tolls | Intersection of RD 1, RD 97, and RD 708 in the village |
| Train + Transfer | 3+ hours | variable | No nearby passenger train station; driving is required |
| Regional bus | — | — | There are no scheduled bus routes serving Verteillac |
Three Departmental Roads, No Railway
The lack of a train service is not a recent development: the rail lines serving the Ribérac area closed to passenger services as early as 1939–1940 and have never reopened. Describing Ribérac, just 12.5 km by road away, as experiencing “railway decline” would therefore be misleading: the subprefecture itself has had no passenger station for more than eighty years. The country’s entire transportation network relies on roads—something to keep in mind when planning your trip.
The village is located at the junction of three departmental roads (RD 1 toward Périgueux, RD 708 toward Ribérac and Angoulême, RD 97 toward Saint-Paul-Lizonne). There is no rail service: even Ribérac, about 13 km away, no longer has a passenger station. To travel from Bordeaux and explore this part of the Périgord Vert at your own pace, the executive car service from Bordeaux offers the simplest door-to-door option, at a fixed rate known in advance, starting at 225 € one way.
Practical Information
- Recommended duration: a short stop (town square, church, La Brousse memorial), to be combined with a visit to Ribérac, La Tour-Blanche, or Brantôme.
- Market: Saturday mornings in the market hall—carrying on the village’s tradition as a market town.
- Note: Verteillac served as the seat of the canton from 1790 to 2015 (comprising 17 municipalities) before being incorporated into the canton of Ribérac; the former canton remains twinned with an Italian municipality.
- A historical gem: The village’s first school was founded on September 15, 1662, by Jeanne de Labrousse, a Carmelite nun, who donated a house, a garden, and two farmsteads.
- Shops & Services: A few local shops in the village; a wider selection in Ribérac (~13 km).
- Transportation: There is no train station or regular bus service. A car or chauffeur service is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the name "Verteillac" come from?
The name ends in “-ac,” from the Latin suffix -acum, which denotes a Gallo-Roman estate (“the estate of…”). However, the name of the ancient owner is not established by the available sources: the hypothesis of a Germanic “Vertel” has not been confirmed. The Occitan form is Vertelhac, and medieval records refer to it as Verteilhacum.
Is Verteillac a bastide?
Its town center has a regular grid layout reminiscent of a new town, and local history sometimes refers to it as a “bastide.” However, no scholarly source classifies it as such, and true bastides were founded between 1222 and 1373. It is better to refer to it as a town with a regular layout, without making a definitive judgment on its status.
What remains of the Verteillac castle?
Nothing remains visible. The stately castle, the residence of the La Brousse family, was confiscated and then sold as national property during the Revolution, following the emigration of César de La Brousse in 1791–1792. Its exact location remains a matter of debate: local tradition places it beneath the war memorial, while the official description locates it at the fairgrounds.
Who was the Count of Verteillac, whom Louis XIV praised?
Nicolas de La Brousse (1645–1693), Count of Verteillac, to whom Vauban personally taught the art of fortification. Louis XIV is said to have remarked that he had lost “the best infantry officer” since Turenne—a quote taken from a panegyric biography published in 1693. His bust is displayed in the Gallery of Battles at Versailles.
Why would Verteillac have had two castles?
Because, for about two centuries, the seigneury was shared between two lineages (co-seigneury), including the Salagnacs. Local historians have inferred from this the probable existence of two fortified residences, an “upper castle” and a “lower castle.” It is an appealing but unproven hypothesis: these castles have disappeared.
Was Verteillac the canton seat?
Yes, from 1790 to 2015. The canton of Verteillac comprised 17 municipalities (4,494 residents in 2011). The 2015 territorial reform abolished it and incorporated the municipality into the canton of Ribérac, bringing an end to more than two centuries of cantonal status.
How many people live in Verteillac?
547 residents in 2023, a sharp decline (−18.6% since 2017)—a figure that is now lower than it was in 1962. The village has a very aging population (more than half of the residents are 60 or older), with a population density of approximately 30 people per square kilometer.
What is the Grésignac mound?
It is a medieval motte-and-bailey (earthwork fortification) listed near Verteillac—but, contrary to what is often stated, it is located in the municipality of La Chapelle-Grésignac, not in Verteillac. Together with the motte at Bourzac, it guarded the Lizonne Valley, on the border between the Périgord and the Angoumois regions.
Is the church in Verteillac designated as a historic monument?
No. It is listed only in the General Heritage Inventory and is not protected as a Historic Monument. The only building in the municipality designated as a Historic Monument is the Château de la Meyfrenie, a 19th-century residence. The church itself is a building constructed in several phases: only the 12th-century Romanesque choir is medieval; the nave—which was formerly vaulted with domes until 1811—was rebuilt in 1869 by the architect Mandin (consecrated in 1872, apse restored in 1894, bell tower in 1899).
When was the first Verteillac school founded?
On September 15, 1662, by Jeanne de Labrousse, a Carmelite nun and widow of Jean de Salignac, Count of Rochefort. She endowed the school with a large house, a garden, and two farmsteads—its own land revenues, a rarity for a rural school in the 17th century. It is the oldest known school in the village, founded barely six years after the La Brousse family purchased the manor.
How far is Verteillac from Bordeaux?
About 126 km, or ~1 hour and 50 minutes by car. A chauffeur service is available door-to-door starting at 225 € one way. The village does not have a train station; access is by road.
What's there to see around Verteillac?
La Tour-Blanche (former barony of La Brousse, ~12 min), Ribérac and its Romanesque churches with domes (~15 min), Brantôme and its abbey (~40 min), Nontron, and Périgueux (~52 min). The Ribérac region is a land of gentle countryside, domed churches, and unassuming rural heritage.
Further Reading
- The jewel of the Périgord Vert, on the Dronne River: see the Brantôme Guide (abbey, caves, “Venice of the Périgord”)
- A neighboring village in the Ribérac region, described in detail: see Bertric-Burée’s Guide (millennial yew tree, Gary Gygax Alley)
- The 2,000-Year-Old Prefecture: See the Guide to Périgueux (Vesunna, Saint-Front)
- The capital of the Périgord Pourpre: see the Bergerac Guide (Cyrano, gabarres, Monbazillac)
- Plan your trip: Book a chauffeured transfer from Bordeaux to Verteillac or explore all our destinations
Sources and References
- Wikipedia — Verteillac — geography, demographics, La Brousse, canton
- INSEE — Complete Verteillac dataset (24573) — population, density, age groups
- Wikidata — Verteillac — area, elevations, population series
- POP/Mérimée Database — Church of Verteillac — Casadean priory, 12th-century Romanesque choir, rebuilt in 1869
- Wikipedia — The La Brousse Family of Verteillac — Thibaud 1656, Nicolas, Count; César-Pierre, Marquis
- Wikipedia — Nicolas de La Brousse — Vauban, Turenne, eulogy of Louis XIV, bust at Versailles
- POP/Mérimée Database — Château de Coutures — a fortified castle destroyed during the Revolution, still standing in 1793
- Wikipedia — Verteillac Canton — 17 municipalities, 1790–2015, incorporated into Ribérac
Article updated in July 2026.
Off to the Ribérac region
Direct trip from Bordeaux (~1 hour 50 minutes) to the Périgord Vert, with stops of your choice along the way—Ribérac, the Dronne Valley, Brantôme. Written fixed-price quote within 30 minutes; sedan or 7-passenger van; English-speaking driver.
