1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Sarlat-la-Canéda (French pronunciation:[saʁlalakaneda]ⓘ;Occitan:Sarlat e La Canedat), commonly known asSarlat, is acommune in the southwestern Frenchdepartment ofDordogne, a part ofNouvelle-Aquitaine.[3] Sarlat and La Canéda were distinct towns until merged into one commune in March 1965.[4]
The town of Sarlat is in a region known in France asPérigord Noir. It lies in the southeastern part of theDordogne department, 7 km north of the riverDordogne.
Sarlat is a medieval town that developed around a largeBenedictineabbey ofCarolingian origin. The medievalSarlat Cathedral is dedicated toSaint Sacerdos. This abbey appears in records as early as 1081 and was one of the few in the region that was not raided by the Vikings. The name for the abbey church was Saint Sacerdos by 1318; in the 20th century, it would become a cathedral underPope John XXIII.[7]
Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and one of the towns most representative of 14th-century France. Its historic centre, with 77 protected monuments, was added to France's Tentative List for future nomination as aUNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.[8] The excellent state of preservation owed a debt to writer, resistance fighter and politicianAndré 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.[9][10]
Agriculture: Agriculture has long been of importance in theDordogne area around Sarlat.Tobacco has been grown around Sarlat since 1857 and has historically been a major commodity for the area, although it is on the wane. Other agricultural commodities include corn, hay, walnuts, walnut oil, cheeses, wine,cèpes (a species of wild mushroom) and truffles.
Tourism: Numerous visitors—especially from northern Europe[citation needed] (the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, etc.)—come on holiday to Sarlat and the region surrounding it and some have settled there permanently. The months of July and August are traditionally thehaute saison (high season) for visitors, as is true in much of France outside Paris.
Foie gras: There are several large foie grasfactories including Rougié, and many small producers of foie gras in the area;[10] other farms raisegeese andducks to produce products (confits,pâté, etc.) from these birds. The commune holds an annual three day festival, "Fest'oie", in honour of this significant part of its economy which also attracts numerous tourists.[12]
A film festival has been held in the commune every November since 1991. Other events include the Truffle Festival, Christmas Market and Fest’oie in winter, the Ringueta of traditional games, and the Theatre Games Festival.[5]
Étienne de La Boétie (1530–1563), judge and humanist poet remembered as the friend of the Renaissance philosopherMichel de Montaigne. He is the author of theDiscourse on Voluntary Servitude, a philosophical essay that has become a foundational text in the history of political thought and the critique of tyranny.[13]
André Malraux (1901–1976), a square and a gallery of paintings bear the name of the former Minister of Culture. This is explained by the fact that he is considered by many Sarladais as the saviour of the historical district of the city. While visiting Sarlat, he realised that the city was in danger of ruin in certain neighbourhoods and that some monuments were being destroyed. The Saved Areas Act was drafted to save the city.[citation needed]
Jacques Géry (1917–2007), ichthyologist, died in Sarlat
Jean Nouvel (born 1945), architect, spent his childhood in Sarlat and transformed the ancient church of Sainte Marie into a covered market with monumental doors.
The town and region have featured in two major Hollywood films:Ridley Scott'sThe Duellists (1978), based onJoseph Conrad's Napoleonic tale; and more recentlyTimeline (2003), adapted fromMichael Crichton's time-travel novel, and set in 14th-century France.
The pyramid tomb ofFrançois Fournier-Sarlovèze, who inspired the story behindThe Duellists, is located in the cemetery of Sarlat.
The city also appears in the first instalments of French authorRobert Merle's sagaFortune de France, which tells the story of a fictitiousHuguenot, Pierre de Siorac, during the 16th and 17th centuries in France.
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