Attractions and Places To See around Brugnac - Top 18

The community, often referred to as the "Order of the Templars" for short, whose full name is "Poor Knights of Christ and of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem", takes us back to the 13th century. Founded in the Holy Land, it spread surprisingly quickly with numerous branches in many countries in Central Europe. The order gained notoriety through the fact that it was dissolved in 1312 by the French king and the pope and its members were accused of being heretics. The main reason for the dissolution, however, was not the human and religious misconduct (heresy) of the members, which was merely a pretext, but the legendary wealth of this order. King Philip IV of France (1268 to 1314) wanted to use this measure primarily to improve his coffers and secure its treasures.

Nowadays, they are rarely used for their original purpose, but are often just technical and historical monuments to a long tradition of craftsmanship. But here is fortunately proof of the opposite: the heavy millstones inside are moved solely by the power of the wind as the driving force, and grain is ground into flour (so-called grain mills). These old windmills are therefore the best proof that people were clever enough a number of centuries ago - long before the discovery of electricity and the inventions that followed it - to harness the natural power of the elements.

The Bourdeille mill, known as the Gibra mill, benefits from the prevailing winds coming from the west on its mound at the top of a hill. From Pech-de-Bère in the south – where the Lot flows into the Garonne – to the town of Marmande in the northwest, it offers you from its privileged location a profound panorama of the Garonne valley. Listed in the inventory of Historic Monuments in 1979, the Gibra windmill benefited from a restoration in the early 1980s, a perfect example of safeguarding local heritage. It has all the equipment for turning in the wind and grinding grain, and on windy days (and open to the public), you can watch milling demonstrations.

The Saint-Germain church is a Romanesque church located in the town of Temple-sur-Lot, in the Lot-et-Garonne department in New Aquitaine. Built in the 12th century, it has been enlarged and modified over the centuries. The church is famous for its 15th century frescoes, which were rediscovered in 1952 and restored in 1961. The frescoes depict biblical scenes, holy figures, angels and demons. The church is also known for its richly carved portal, which features figures of lions, sirens and griffins, as well as scenes from the life of Saint Germain. It has been classified as a historical monument since 1979.

Temple-sur-Lot is a commune in the south-west of France, located in the Lot-et-Garonne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It is crossed by the Lot, offering varied natural landscapes. The town of Temple-sur-Lot is known for its nautical activities, including a nautical base offering canoe-kayak and paddle rentals, as well as sailing lessons. The town also has an interesting historical heritage, including the Sainte-Foy church dating from the 12th century and the Lagorsse castle from the 18th century. Temple-sur-Lot is also a popular destination for golf enthusiasts, with an 18-hole golf course located close to the town. Finally, the surroundings of Temple-sur-Lot offer numerous possibilities for hiking and cycling through the surrounding countryside.

Ideale flat route without traffic .

The origins of the village The Temple sur Lot, which extends on the left bank of the river, owes its name to the Templars who settled there at the end of the 13th century. They built a Commandery there which collected tolls on the Lot and on the valley road which runs alongside it since the Roman occupation. After the ban on order and the devastation of the Hundred Years War, it was the Hospitallers who took over the Commandery, rebuilt the village and redistributed the abandoned land to “immigrants” from the Massif Central. It is especially the Commander Bernard Gros, an extraordinary character, also responsible for several other minor Commanderies between the Lot and the Garonne, who gives the impetus: he left his reason books which allow to know the life of the village. in the last quarter of the 15th century. His successors continued to expand and give the building its defensive aspect during the wars of religion. They complete the work of Bernard Gros by completing what is today the Place du Fort, which leans against the Commandery while benefiting from its protection. The monumental ensemble covers an area of 3,200 square meters on the ground. At the same time, the suburbs are developing and you can still see beautiful half-timbered houses in the village today. After the Revolution, the Commandery became private property. It now belongs to the town and tours are organized.

Church composed of a two-bay nave with a bell tower with two arches to the west and a square choir flanked by two corner buttresses to the east. The roof and the frames have fallen, the walls are cracked and partially ruined. The traces of an old porch remain along the 1st south bay. From the 12th century, this place was the seat of a commandery of the Templars, called Le Temple-du-Breuil. The whole was donated to the Hospitallers of Saint-Jean-de-Jerusalem when the Order of the Temple was abolished and was then dependent on the Grand Priory of Toulouse. The nave was built in the 13th century. The choir dates from the 16th century. In 1572, a fire partially destroyed it. It is still not rebuilt in 1603. Reconstruction work was carried out in the 17th century. The arcaded bell tower was built in brick during this period, while a large part of the walls were raised. The 18th-19th centuries saw the construction of two important buttresses on the west facade, raised to contain the slope of the bell tower.