Sarlat-la-Caneda
Description
Sarlat-la-Canéda , or simply Sarlat, is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Geography
The town of Sarlat is in a region known in France as the Périgord Noir (the Black Périgord, as opposed to the Green Périgord, the White Périgord, and the Purple Périgord).
History
Sarlat is a medieval town that developed around a large Benedictine abbey of Carolingian origin. The medieval Sarlat Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Sacerdos.
Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and one of the towns most representative of 14th century France. It owes its current status on France's Tentative List for future nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage site to the enthusiasm of writer, resistance fighter and politician André Malraux, who, as Minister of Culture (1960–1969), restored the town and many other sites of historic significance throughout France. The centre of the old town consists of impeccably restored stone buildings and is largely car-free.
Population
Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1968 8,801 — 1975 9,765 +11.0% 1982 9,670 −1.0% 1990 9,909 +2.5% 1999 9,751 −1.6% 2008 9,331 −4.3%-
Portable still at Sarlat
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House of La Boétie, the immortal friend of Montaigne
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Centre of Sarlat on a summer's day
Transport
- Sarlat railway station offers train services to Bergerac and Bordeaux.
Cultural references
The town and region have featured in two major Hollywood films: Ridley Scott's The Duellists (1978) based on Joseph Conrad's Napoleonic tale; and more recently Timeline (2003) adapted from Michael Crichton's time-travel novel, set in 14th century France.
In the cemetery of Sarlat one can admire the pyramid or rests François Fournier-Sarlovèze and then counted the mayors of Sarlat and Henry Sanfourche.
Other movies partly shot in Sarlat include:
- Ever After: a Cinderella Story (1998) by Andy Tennant
- The Musketeer (2001) by Peter Hyams
- Jacquou le Croquant (2007) by Laurent Boutonnat.
- Jeanne d’Arc, by Luc Besson,.
