Discover mediaeval castles in this region once occupied by the Plantagenet kings

“An archipelago of royal Plantagenet stay-places in a hostile aristocratic ocean”

On the crossroads of ancient trade routes north and south.

The area around Pressignac teems with ancient Gallo-Roman evidence. Pressignac itself has a Roman “stem” in its name, the “-ac” suffix having formerly been a Roman “-acum” – one of the most frequent formative components of Roman place names and crucially, indicates a personal association. So we have several options, it could derive from a Roman family name, perhaps Pressinius or Priscinus, or perhaps from the Latin word “Praesignis” means “Pre-eminent” or “Outstanding”. Could the proximity of Pressignac (Praesign-acum?) to Chassenon indicate either something like Officers’ quarters, or wealthy or powerful people? Literally: “The important peoples’ place?”There is lots to back up that it was an important location, for sure.

A pretty “Very French” town to visit especially if you love art, or are visiting “Ile Aux Serpents” and want a place to go for lunch.

Confolens – a pen-portrait

Literally meaning “the flowing together” of two rivers: Confolens – Twin-town Pitlochry, Scotland – is a latin name for the town sitting on the two rivers La Vienne and La Goire at the point that they flow together.

Continue reading Pitlochry’s twin-town Confolens