St Félix de Villadeix Town Hall - presentation of the commune

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St Alvère in the Périgord :
the first truffle market
in France to have gone
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Organisation of the Medieval Motte

During the tenth century, a period fraught with invasions and pillaging, lack of security led to an elaboration of defence strategies such as the mounds of earth seen here, which would have been topped by wooden towers and surrounded by a ditches and thorny hedges. This explains the origins of mounds or mottes (often built on older burial mounds).

The Motte or Mound The strategic point of defence and surveillance. A truncated-cone shape, it measured 4 to 6m high on a 60m x 40m base. On its summit was built a wooden or stone tower and it was surrounded by a protective ditch.	The Courtyard The peasants and their livestock would take refuge from attack in the courtyard, protected by hedges and fencing.	The Tower Used as a watchtower by the local seigneur to protect his property, it became his abode in times of trouble. The tower was square and surrounded by fencing.

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