The Enéa, this small 15 kilometer watercourse crosses the town of Saint-Vincent-le-Paluel, located a few kilometers from Sarlat. Located on a promontory overlooking the Enéa stream, two kilometers downstream from the town, the Château de Paluel has been listed in the inventory of historical monuments since 1927. It was set on fire in June 1944 by the SS Das Reich division, author among other things of the massacre of Oradour-sur-Glane -, which, while retreating towards the north, came across a young guerrilla with a revolver nearby. She shot him down and set the castle on fire. This will not prevent the director Denys de la Patellière from shooting a few scenes for his film “Le Tatoué”, shot in 1968 with Jean Gabin and Louis de Funès. You may remember that famous line “Look at that, it’s a ruin”
Since 2017, Étienne Cluzel, restaurateur in Carlux and child of the country is the proud owner:
“The main reason for this acquisition was to save this place.” A heritage in danger that must be preserved because behind these stones, history speaks.”
– Marie-Dominique PRIVE
Etienne CluzeHe tells us that the castle was surrounded by swamps, very humid areas which gradually dried up. It can be seen on old Napoleonic maps. You can admire in front of the castle, a very pretty fountain. Before the water supply, a whole system was put in place to bring this precious resource to the castle with a mechanical ram system which brought water from the stream into one of the towers of the castle.
? Listen to Etienne Cluzel, this heritage enthusiast and adventurer, tell you this story.
– Marie Dominique Private
To help finance the heavy work, the Château de Paluel will be open to the public this summer 2022 with, among other things, a film screening to highlight the know-how of the trades of yesteryear.