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BRANTOME , a See also: town of See also: south-western See also: France, in the department of See also: Dordogne, 20 M
.
N. by W. of Perigueux by steam-See also: tramway
.
Pop
.
(1906) 1230
.
The town is built, in See also: great See also: part, on an See also: island in the See also: river Dronne
.
It is well known for the remains of an abbey founded by Charlemagne about 770 and afterwards destroyed by the See also: Normans
.
The See also: oldest existing portion is a square tower dating from the 1th century, built upon a See also: rock beside the See also: church which it overlooks
.
It communicates by a
See also: staircase with the church, a rectangular See also: building partly Romanesque, partly See also: Gothic, to the west of which are the remains of a cloister
.
The abbey buildings date from the 18th century, and now serve as hotel-de-ville, magistrature and See also: schools
.
Caves in the neighbouring rocks were inhabited by the monks before the building of the abbey; one of them, used as an oratory, contains curious carvings, representing the Last See also: Judgment and the Crucifixion
.
In the See also: middle of the 16th century See also: Pierre de Bourdeille came into possession of the abbey, from which he took the 'name of Brantome
.
Brantome has some old houses and a church of the 15th century, which was once fortified and is now used as a market
.
Truffles are the chief article of commerce; and there are quarries of freestone in the neighbourhood . The dolmen which is known as Pierre-See also: Levee, to the See also: east of the town, is the most remarkable in See also: Perigord
.
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