Campsites in Collonges
If you want to visit Collonges-la-Rouge, there are two lovely campsites in the commune of Collonges itself, and several campsites around the village, enough for you to enter your criteria and find the establishment that suits you best. Below is a selection of some of the campsites that will appeal to you:
The Collonges-la-Rouge *** campsite is open from 1 March until the end of October. Ideal for visiting the village voted Most Beautiful Village in France, it offers a wide choice of accommodation, from traditional to premium ecolodges and fully equipped mobile homes. There's a heated outdoor swimming pool with waterslide, fitness and aquagym classes, and an ice-cream parlour in the snack bar. Something for all the family.
Open from early May to early November, the Domaine du Coq Rouge campsite **** in Collonges is set in a forest. It has 70 pitches and 24 rentals of bungalows, chalets and tents. There's an outdoor swimming pool and solarium, a sauna, fitness and yoga classes, a wellness area and a spa. Hiking, volleyball, table tennis, pétanque and badminton are all on offer, as are dancing, entertainment and shows for all.
Camping Le Coiroux **** in Aubazine is 25 km from Collonges. So there's no excuse not to explore the village! Open from April to the end of September, it is located 300 metres from a lake with direct access to a beach. There is a heated outdoor swimming pool, solarium and jacuzzi. Entertainment is organised and you can enjoy golf and tennis. Entertainment for all is available during the day and in the evening.
The must-sees in Collonges
Its nickname of "city of 25 towers" is testament to the richness of its built heritage. Visitors will quickly fall in love with the town as they wander through its red stone cobbled streets, admiring the beautiful castles and warmly-coloured fortified sandstone towers, as well as the typical medieval architecture.
A visit to St Peter's Church, built in the 11th century and dressed all in red sandstone, is like stepping back in time. The recently restored interior features 16th-century decoration, with a 16th-century wooden Christ, a magnificent gold and blue altar and a 17th-century gilded wooden Virgin, while the exterior was enlarged and fortified in the late Middle Ages. Its Limousin Romanesque bell tower with gables, superb tympanum and square keep are also worth a visit.
Very close to Saint-Pierre church, the Pénitents Noirs chapel was built in the 15th century and served as the headquarters of the Pénitents Noirs brotherhood, which in the Middle Ages offered moral and material assistance to prisoners who were ill or condemned to death.
There are many listed buildings here, such as the Maison de la Sirène, built of traditional stone. It is now occupied by the association Les Amis de Collonges. Inside, there are permanent exhibitions that tell us more about everyday life in the village of Collonges-la-Rouge in the 19th century.
A medieval building restored in the 16th century, Château de Vassinhac, owned by the Viscount of Turenne, is built entirely of red sandstone, and features a superb spiral staircase and a number of other furnished rooms, including the bedroom of the writer Colette. In the cellar, reached by the spiral staircase, you'll find a photo exhibition and a film on the history of the château. Outside, you'll find the south-facing facade of the château, as well as a pretty park filled with vegetation and several calvaries.