You will discover the commune’s
treasures along a 9 km hiking path, which starts at the village
fountain.
- Saint Jean Baptiste Church
Polyptyques from the 13th and 14th centuries refer to the church
under the name of “Sancti Joanis d’Estissaco”.
It was not changed much in the 19th century. It kept its
Romanesque-era nave, and its restored portal. This portal is
made of small arcades resting on small columns, with a bell
tympanum overhanging it. According to Abby Brugière, Protestants
laid waste to it around 1572, and the choir was not rebuilt
until the end of the 16th century.
There were many hideouts and
chateaux in the commune. Some lovely residences remain:
Malrigou Hospice (private)
-Malrigou Hospice (private)
Fortified house built between 1430 and 1440. In those days, it
belonged to Amaury de Bideran, company captain and faithful
lieutenant to Amaury d’Estissac. In the 20th century, it became
the house of the artist-sculptor-ceramist Pol Chambost. The
building opens its doors to the public regularly, for
contemporary art events. The residence is made of two buildings
at right angles. The main building is framed with two square
towers and edged with a small pit. A third tower at the interior
angle connects the two buildings.
La Ponsie and Puy-Jean (private)
La Ponsie and Puy-Jean (private)
In the absence of convincing archaeological discoveries, these
two fiefs are associated. It is undeniable that Puy-Jean is more
anciently cited, but we cannot affirm if it was situated near
Ponsie or if this manor was put up on the site of the first.
The dwelling of La Ponsie is rectangular. It is built on a large
terrace cut into the hill. On its facade, whose old casement
windows were replaced by large picture windows, a hexagonal
tower stands out, enclosing a spiral staircase. Its two-sided
roof, covered with flat tiles, is framed by pitched gables.
-La Beylie (private)
In 1692, the fief of Beylie and viguerie (jurisdiction) of
Estissac consisted of a noble house with garden, meadow, woods,
ploughable land and vineyards.
It is built on a rocky outcrop, most of which is surrounded by
high walls. All the buildings, at right angles, lean against one
of the sides of this outcrop. One of them is extended by former
stables made into housing. A sort of pit, maybe a former dry
moat, completely isolates the hill’s site.
-Many huts, built at the beginning of the 20th century, are
scattered about the countryside.
-At the beginning of the 20th century, ruins of a priory and its
chapel dedicated to Sainte Quitterie, still existed at “Loumagne”.
It was a place of pilgrimage in former years. Today, the
fountain and the statue of Sainte Quitterie remain.
