MONTPON-MENESTEROL

DISCOVERY OF A COUNTRY HISTORY
Double, an area with A so particular atmosphere... A little history; the Double is a forest area of Périgord which extends on approximately 50 000 hectares. It is the country of sands and tertiary clays, of the landscapes of wood and ponds. Until XIIIth century, the Double is a relatively peaceful area, but with the arrival of the One hundred Year old Wars and religions, Double knows a precarious situation. Towards the end of the XVIIth century, period of revival with the development of the glassmakings, the coal mining and the increasing activity of the potteries and tileries. But the end of XVIIIth is an unfavorable period: over-exploitation of the forest, archaism of agriculture, the forests are sold or burned... At the XIXth century, the crisis is total with the arrival of malaria and malnutrition. Several operations are carried out: opening of the agricultural roads to disenclose the area, draining of the marshes and ponds, beginning of afforestation in maritime pine, the economy starts again then. But after 1886, starts the depopulation of Double and this phenomenon is accentuated inthe 1st world war. At the beginning of the XXth century, a specialization towards the breeding takes shape. With the passing of years, the small farms leave place to the regrouping of parcels which become more important.
After centuries spent between ease and poverty, the Forest of Double finds today a certain serenity, a recognition and offers undeniable assets: many hiking trails, site of Jemaye with this vast water stretch into the full heart of Double.
Double, it is also... The traditional habitat is the doubleaudean house, made out of the cobs and thatched roofs, replaced during the XIXth century by brick and the flat tile, then today by the stone.
Half-timbering also gives a specific seal to these dwellings. The doubleaudean house was most of the time made of a house joined with a barn: there were a central part, a door of service and stables side (steles with cows, hay lofts).

Discovery Of A COUNTRY HISTORY
The Farm of Parcot located at Echourgnac, is the perfect example of the typical house of Double which one can visit. It offers a summary of what was Double at the last century. It dates from the XIXth century. The walls are out of wood and cob on the external gallery. The manufacture of the walls was carried out starting from a mixture of straw, rye, clay and water. At the interior, rustic pieces of furniture make us understand the way of life of the doubleaudeans: "cassotte" or "couade" (pipe pan) to save water, with the small baker's oven beside the pond.
The Cistercian abbey Notre Dame of Good Hope in Echourgnac was founded in 1868. Monks of the abbey Notre Dame of Port Salut in Mayenne are installed on the field of Biscay inEchourgnac. They build themselves the monastery, and contribute thus largely to the development of Double. The monastery which follows the rule of St Benoit, belongs to the cistercian order. Today, this abbey is the only Cistercian abbey in Périgord still sheltering monks.
Cartusian monastery of Vauclaire at Montpon-Ménestérol was built into 1315- the Carthusian monks at their arrival in XIVth century contribute then to the development of Double until XVthcentury. But the wars following one another, the monks must leave the places.
The sons of St Bruno repurchase the abbey of Vauclaire in 1858, taking again the tradition of the places. In 1905, a sectarian government again drives out the Carthusian monks from their abbey, and their goods are thus sold. The cartusian monastery which shelters splendid frescos dating from the medium of XIVth century, will be organized in hospital by the American army during the 1st world war. Later, it will be enlarged and transformed into specialized hospital.
The Isle river, a preserved natural inheritance. The Isle river takes its source in High-Vienna and crosses the department of the Dordogne. It is characterized by broad limestones valleys downstream from Périgueux, it is besides along this natural axis that one of the four Périgord is formed: Périgord Blanc which extends from Hautefort to Montpon-Ménestérol. The use of Isle like transportation route dates from the Roman Empire. Its ascent to Périgueux constitutes an important trade route between the Atlantic and Central Périgord. Many installations were carried out to facilitate navigation on Isle in half of the XIXth century, in particular by the creation of stoppings, constructions of locks and of ways of towing.But a few years later, the development of the railroad involves the progressive decline of the river transport. The last barge the "Roger Madeleine" ceased its activity in 1957. Isle is now scratched of the nomenclature of navigable ways.Since several years, 20 communes were linked in order to rehabilitate the Isle river and amongst other things the handing-over of navigability. The 1st realization allowed the installation of a walk in the barge with the crossing of a lock at the beginning of the Mill of Duellas.
The Mill of Duellas is a water mill that is original and single by its imposing architecture. It is the witness of the old industrial activities related to the hydraulic force. It shelters a very beautiful sawmill dating from the beginning of XXth century. Old mill with flour, it also produced electricity. The actions of restoration of this river continue, in additon to the rehabilitation of several locks, which allows other nautical activities to be installed.The commune of Pizou witnessed a prosperous period at the industrial level with the forging mills and steel-works of Coly, founded in the years 1800. Located at the edge of Isle, they were at the top of their activity until 1950. There remains only one vestige of this important factory, with the presence on the site of a brick chimney.