The mansion and the leaning tower of Vermondie are located in the town of Thonac, on the edge of the town of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, in the Dordogne department, 17 km north-east of Les Eyzies.
The two heritage elements are located at the top of a hill overlooking the course of the Vézère.
The manor, which dates for its oldest parts from the 12th century, has been remodeled many times. It must have been more important in the Middle Ages because its lords controlled a vast territory. It has the particularity of having a circular well in its cellar from which develops a network of underground passages dug into the rock. One of them is heading towards the tower, the other two towards the surrounding fields and would have served as hideouts, shelters for pilgrims or even a clever way of taking attackers from behind…
The 20-metre high tower is of Gallo-Roman origin. It does not have a door but has a curved opening at mid-height. Ocular signaling tower in Antiquity (during the conquest of Gaul), its base was probably modified because of the underground passages. However, a legend claims that the lord of the place would have locked up his daughter in the tower to protect her from the advances of a troubadour: every evening, the latter then came to tell a story. And the lovers would have finally kissed while leaning causing the tilting of the building. The absence of a door has given rise to other legends.
The tower is protected as a historical monument. Its singular silhouette has become a must for travelers and tourists coming in particular to visit the nearby Lascaux cave. The property remains private and both the manor and the tower cannot be visited but are clearly visible from the outside. Information on +33 5 53 51 82 60.