Tayac is a town situated on the edge of a loop of the Dordogne, belonging to the Canton of North Libourne and part of the 22 villages of the community of parishes of the Greater Saint-Emilion. Its area is 722 hectares and it is located 13 kilometers from Saint Emilion and 18 kilometers from Libourne. The town now has 131 inhabitants, called Tayacais and Tayacaises

A BIT OF HISTORY

Origin of the name

The origin of Tayac could come from Talius that would come from the Gallic talos.

History

The town of Tayac is the smallest of the North Libourne Canton. It has been inhabited since Early History: the discovery of a treasure dated from the 3rd century confirms this. In the Middle Ages, Tayac belonged to the lordship of Puynormand, who was sold a plot by Henri IV in 1602. Tayac remains connected to neighboring villages. The barony of Puynormand gathered together the parishes of Puynormand, Francs, Saint-Sauveur, Gours, Saint-Cibard and Tayac.

A NATURAL HERITAGE

The village is crossed by the river Le Palais from about 1.5 km.

VINEYARDS

Located in the heart of the wine appellation of Francs Côtes de Bordeaux, the vineyards of Tayac are surrounded by forests.

POINTS OF INTEREST

The romanesque church of Notre-Dame of Tayac is located at the entrance of the village, on top of a hill, overlooking a landscape of vineyards. Dating from the 12th century, it is surrounded by the cemetery enclosed by stone walls. Like most Romanesque churches it has a massive architecture with narrow openings. It has a nave with three bays and an apse composed of a barrel vault, ending in a circular barrel vault. In the 16th century, the bell tower was rebuilt for defensive purposes and the western façade was pierced with a new door that opened under three arches.

The church Notre-Dame sobriety and some of its architectural elements make it a fine example of Romanesque architecture. The church is also listed as a historical monument.

The cross of mission of Tayac was erected in a high place of procession during the first half of the 19th century and evokes many religious traditions. It consists of a stone plinth and a wooden cross of 2.50 meters high, on which a figure of crucified Christ is attached. The cross is there to remind the walker of the importance of religious traditions that exist in this place, and testifies to the second wave of evangelization in the middle of the 20th century.

The Gallic treasure of Tayac is exposed in the Musée d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux. It is one of the most fabulous discoveries of Celtic Europe, composed of 500 Celtic coins, a golden thread rolled spiral weighing 53.40 grams, 73 small bars but also a gold torque weighing 4 kg (the torque is sacred necklace, it is worn by heroized warriors or gods). The reasons for the burial of this treasure remain unknown.