Photos

Coming back from a week-end around Toulouse, I chose to drive back through little roads instead of driving on motorway. This way I could take the most of the sunny weather ! While going from Bergerac to Cognac, I made a pause in a little village called Chillac, in the south of Charente department, on D68 road from Chalais to Barbezieux-Sainte-Hilaire. This small 200 inhabitants village has two very nice monuments : a 12th century church (I will show you in a coming post) and a castle, the one you can see on the photo. Chillac castle was built on 15th century in place of a 11th century castle destroyed during Hundred Year's War. It was remodeled and extended in 19th century. It was filed as historical monumental in 1961. When I came closer to the castle, I was "warmly" welcomed by a big watchdog, fortunately behind the gate (I really hate this kind of dogs ...). But when it left, I could come closer and take this shot for you ;)

A few words of toponymy now ... Have you noticed that the name of many towns and villages in the south of France ends with -ac ? Bergerac, Figeac, Aurillac, Cognac and so Chillac as a few examples. While driving, I asked myself what this suffix meant ... So I googled it. Actually -ac suffix comes from acum and acus suffix that was used for many roman cities. The suffix means about "estate of". For example Aurillac means "estate of Aurelius".