The historic market hall of the village of Belvès on Place d’Armes, Périgord, France
Some background information:
Belvès is a village in the municipality of Pays de Belvès in the ancient cultural region of Périgord in southwestern France. With its more than 1,200 inhabitants it is located in the department of Dordogne in the present region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Belvès is situated at an altitude of approximately 160 meters, about 36 kilometres (22 miles) southwest of the town of Sarlat-la-Canéda and about 120 kilometres (74 miles) east of the city of Bordeaux. It is perched on a hill and overlooks the valley of the river Nauze.
In pre-Roman times, the Celts of the Petrocorii tribe had settled on both banks of the Dordogne. Romans, Gallo-Romans, and Visigoths left only sparse traces. After the Battle of Vouillé in 507, the Franks settled in large areas in southern France too. From around the year 660, the region belonged to the domain of the Dukes of Aquitaine, who effectively ruled vast areas in the south of the Frankish kingdom.
The name "Belvès" first appeared in a document around the year 853. Around 1095, the archbishops of Bordeaux secured the town with a castrum, which were basically walled fortifications. In the early 13th century, parts of the population adopted the beliefs of the Cathars, which were almost entirely eradicated shortly thereafter during the Albigensian Crusades. In 1259, in the Treaty of Paris, Aquitaine was awarded to the English crown, and thus also Belvès.
In 1319, the Dominican Order established a monastery outside the little town. Due to tax increases, many towns in Aquitaine rebelled against the English. In 1369, the English garrison was expelled from Belvès, but they were able to return shortly thereafter. In 1442, in the course of the Hundred Years’ War, Belvès, which had been still occupied by the English, surrendered after a one-month siege to the troops commanded by Arthur III, the later Duke of Brittany.
In 1575, in the course of the Wars of Religion, Belvès was taken by Protestant troops. Later the town was evacuated, but in 1577, it was again conquered. In 1591, the area of Sarlat joined the Catholic League. On the orders of the Parliament of Bordeaux, Belvès became the seat of a seneschal, a royal officer with broad powers, but was later recalled after the official accession of Henry IV in 1594. In the same year, the region experienced peasant uprisings caused by religious and social factors, which continued well into the 16th century. During the revolutionary years from 1790 to 1795, Belvès used to be the district capital.
In 2016, the municipality of Belvès was merged with Saint-Amand-de-Belvès to form the new commune "Pays de Belvès". Belvès has become a member of the association "The most beautiful villages of France" (in French: "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France"), which promotes small and picturesque French villages of quality heritage. Currently 176 villages throughout France are pooled under the umbrella of the organisation. Like many of these villages, also Belvès is quite overrun with tourists in the peak season, but still tranquil at off-season.
Perigòrd is a natural region and former province of France, which corresponds roughly to the current department of Dordogne. It is divided into four areas called the Périgord Noir (in English: "Black Périgord"), named so for the renowned truffles that can be found there, the Périgord Blanc (in English: "White Périgord"), for chalk cliffs and quarries, the Périgord Vert (in English: "Green Périgord"), for forests and forestry and the Périgord Pourpre (in English: "Purple Périgord"), for wine and viticulture. Périgord is noted for its cuisine, especially its duck and goose products, such as "confit de canard" and "foie gras". Périgourdine wines include Bergerac (red and white) and Monbazillac (sweet white).