-
Photos: have you visited Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, France’s favourite village 2025?
This year’s village préféré des Français is home to a 1095 Gothic Abbey
-
Heatwave eases in France - but is another on the way? July weather forecast
A ‘Saharan heat pump’ bringing warm North African winds may cover the country for several days
-
Drought alerts in France: where residents should look out for water restrictions
Use our interactive map to see where drought warnings increased last month
French resident finds château at end of his garden
A resident in Corrèze (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) has accidentally discovered the remains of a medieval château while gardening at home.

Florent Cornaton, who lives in the historic village of Treignac, was cutting down some overgrown vegetation at the end of his garden when greenery was covering up a very old wall.
He continued to investigate, eventually uncovering evidence of battlements, arrow holes, and what he called “a very beautiful building”.
The château remains to about the year 1000. Historical documents show evidence of a building on the site, despite it being covered and forgotten about for centuries.
Daniel Borzeix, a local historian and editor of a book about the château, : “We believed that [the château] did exist, but we were never able to verify it.”
Speaking of the importance of the discovery to the local area, Mr Borzeix : “What is important, is that people are going to be able to own this heritage. When you speak about châteaux to children or adults, it always makes them dream.”
Now, Mr Cornaton and local history lovers are working on raising the remains from the mud, to make it a real historical destination.
An exterior wall and a tower are so far visible.
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France