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Origin and history

The remains of the tower of Saint-Alvere, located in the present municipality of Val de Louyre and Caudeau, date from the thirteenth century. They are part of an ancient feudal castle, mentioned from the 11th century as a fortified village surrounded by ramparts and dominated by a defensive tower. This castle, which was thoroughly renovated in the 14th and 15th centuries, became one of the most imposing in the Périgord before being destroyed during the French Revolution by Joseph Lakanal in 1792.

In the 13th century, the circular tower, now deconstructed, was a key element of the site's defences. The castle was then surrounded by a double enclosure and courtines, with several towers still partially visible. A 13th century reliquary, discovered in the nearby church, contained remains attributed to Saint Alvere, a locally venerated figure, linked to a legend of the 9th century involving Normans.

The seigneury of Sainte-Alvère, whose tower is a symbol, was held by the family of Lostanges from 1448 until the Revolution. The castle, restored in 1780, was burned in 1792, leaving only the round tower and fragments of the ramparts. These remains, listed as historical monuments in 1949, bear witness to the strategic and seigneurial importance of the site throughout the centuries.

The tower is today the last visible vestige of this medieval complex, marked by remarkable vaults and a monumental gate. Its present state is the result of both revolutionary destruction and erosion of time, but it remains a major architectural testimony of the medieval Périgord.

The commune, formerly cantonal capital, merged in 2017 with other localities to form Val de Louyre and Caudeau. The tower, a communal property, is a place full of history, linked to both local legends and the political upheavals of the Revolution.

Finally, the site is part of a broader heritage, including an 18th century church and protected natural elements, such as the Caudeau Valley. These vestiges recall the historical importance of Sainte-Alvère, between spirituality, seigneurial power and resistance during the Second World War.

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