Dun le Palestel is a village of Creuse department, in Nouvelle Aquitaine region. It is located in the Northwest of the department, at the frontier with Berry area and is a stage in the journey to Santiago de Compostela.The village was named Dun le Palleteau for a long time until the 1950s: it then adopted the original name of the Palestel family.
The closest airports are Limoges and Poitiers, and the closest train station is 15km from Dun, in La Souterraine.
History
An axe from the Bronze Age was found in the surroundings of Dun le Palestel (in Maisonfeyne) which proves that people were living in the area during this period. However, the origin of the name Dun le Palleteau would come from the Celtic period. “Dunos” which at first meant “mountain”, later designated a stronghold as well. As for Palleteau, it would derive from the feudal name of the village’s owners during the 12th and 13th century, “les Palestel”.
Activities
There a few places of interest in Dun le Palestel such as the washing house of Dunet whose original roof structure is covered with slates, the fountains of Dunet washing house and Tribolée which would come from the Castle of Saint Germain Beaupré.
Also, the post office building was part of the Castle of Dun and served as a prison during the Ancien Regime. In the 12th century, it was surrounded by a deep moat, part of which has been converted into a garden.
The church of Notre Dame de la Reconnaissance was built from 1905 to 1908. It houses an 11th century wooden statue.
The visitor can also discover the Creuse department and its strongholds in Crozant, Boussac, Villemonteix, or the Tapestry Museum in Aubusson.
Food and Drink
Chestnuts are an important part of the Limousin cuisine culture. It was the base of farmers’ diet during winters and today, it can be found in many regional recipes: in pâté, black pudding, cakes, with meat. There is even chestnut liqueur.
Limousin grows apples, the Golden d’altitude, and produces about 110 000 tons a year. It was imported from the United States and adopted by the Limousin soil. It now has its own Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (a label which testifies to its origin and quality). Other desserts are Gâteau Creusois, flognarde, clafoutis or Madeleine de Saint Yrieix.
Limousin meat established itself in the market. The most famous and appreciated one is Limousin beef with its “veau de lait” or “vache de reforme”. However, its veal, lamb and pork are not to be discarded.
Restaurants
- LA TABLE DUNOISE, traditional cuisine. 3 rue Bazennerye, 23800, Dun le Palestel. Tel: 05.55.89.00.23
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