Issigeac - Saint-Félicien

Legends tell, that Issigeac developed around a Benedictine monastery established by Saint Cybard. A convent dedicated to Saint Peter existed here indeed from the 7th century on.

Pope Eugene III mentioned the convent around 1053. It was obviously connected to the abbey in Sarlat. In 1317 a bishopric was established in Sarlat, but the first bishop claimed, that the revenues are not sufficient to meet the episcopal duties. So he asked Pope John XXII to add the deanery of Issigeac with all the income to the see of Sarlat. The Pope agreed.

In 1437 Issigeac was taken from the English by the French. In 1482 the Bishop of Sarlat chased the monks out of the monastery and established canons here. Around that time the reconstruction of the church seen today started. The completion of the church, that replaced the Romanesque priory, lasted for about 40 years. During the Wars of Religion, the Protestants set fire and partially demolished the church, but the Bishop of Sarlat had it rebuilt.