KingKnight and Crusader head of the Plantagenet empire

Richard Lion heart is well dead in the Limousin region in the year 1199 The doubt remained until recently, nourished by many Chronicles, the turbulent history of the King of England ended, according to sources, at Chinon, in edge of Loire, Piégut and Nontron in Périgord. The publication of the book "the unromantic death of Richard I" to the English John Gillingham, in 1978, put an end to the controversy: it is at the foot of the Tower of Châlus-Chabrol (Haute-Vienne) Richard Lion heart received a deadly crossbow tile.

In the beginning of the evening of 26 March, the battle is on its fourth day. Conducted by the devastating of Limoges, the head of road Mercadier, in service since 1184 of the English and Richard - by also Duke of Aquitaine-, it opposes only 38 defenders instead hundreds of seasoned veterans. Armed with bows, Spears, boiling oil and molten pitch, the besieged refugees in the highest Tower, which dominates even in our day buildings, repel the onslaught with pugnacity, doing the admiration of the attackers, including the King, arrived at the beginning of the battle. It is wanting to view progress more closely this last approach very unwisely the ramparts in the middle of his men. Pierre Basile, one of the chiefs of defence, is the Group and takes his tile, ignoring the presence of his August visitor, and is likely fly at the base of the neck. Richard will himself remove the arrow, before joining his camp. But the inexperience of the doctor of Mercadier, a condition already dilapidated by the good food and the infection will do the rest. The King died two weeks later, in the Hall of the Castle, the besieged having Meanwhile visited as soon as they had knowledge of the royal State of health.

King-Knight and Crusader, head of the Plantagenet empire... Richard Lion heart was his scattered remains: the heart was sent to Rouen, the body in the Abbey of Fontevraud - close to his father, Henry II, and -, and the entrails left to Châlus. Mummified, they disappeared in the ruins of the Church of the Castle.

Historians have finally been sorting between legends and reality, noting in passing the modest meaning of this battle in the course of the hundred years war, but under the importance of the story.

Today, it remains the site of the battle the Dungeon to the top of which left the fatal tile, a body of logis, two towers and a touristic route bearing the name of the disappeared, including the small city limousine is the epicenter. Visitors urged to this summer, inspired by the stories of Walter Scott - who tells headquarters in "ivanohë" in the transposing-, but also of Hollywood movies. In 1976, "The Rose and the arrow", with Sean Connery, actually State, and, especially, this year the output of "Robin hood", Ridley Scott, reconstructed in detail and by the small battle menu and its major episode.

Upgrading of the site

The economic impact of the story, they are currently in the heart of a reflection by the commune, which comes to recruit a specialist in the enhancement of the heritage. The castle is reopened to visits for a year after it was closed for four years by its private owner, for cause of nuisances. An agreement was reached in which the city supports the maintenance of the gardens and the logistics of guided tours, while projects are in development. A website dedicated to the deceased cross is pregnant, and the creation of a journey in the country of the chestnut limousine, another local specificity.

"We are going to restart activity, says the head of the office of tourism of Châlus, to make a historic visit and tourism major. Lion heart is a symbol known to all, bearer of dreams and fantasies, and the place of his death, on the road of the same name, is a must visit. This represents an important source of development in summer for the municipality.

In 2005, last year where visits were still authorized by the owner, more than 20,000 entries were recorded. Ticketing, sale of products (books, photos, prints, videos, etc.), benefits business annexes as restaurants, are therefore not indifferent the small commune of Châlus (1,600 inhabitants), at halfway between Limoges and Périgueux. This year is thus inaugurated a festive demonstration - "Les Médiévales" - which owes much to the memory of the English monarch to wage war and then die on the land of France.