The village of Gargilesse-Dampierre, nestled in the lush, green Creuse valley and one of France's "Most Beautiful Villages", has always been a favourite haunt for artists, including the writer George Sand who loved going there to recharge her batteries.
The picturesque charm of the place continues to attract painters, sculptors and craftspeople today, as is demonstrated by the numerous studios and galleries that fill the village.
Walk around the church and château to explore the beautiful group of houses with pitched roofs.
Don't miss going to admire the art treasures in Notre-Dame church, a beautiful Romanesque building containing no fewer than 120 historiated capitals! The crypt, located under the chevet, houses a 12th-century wooden Virgin and magnificent frescoes dating from the 13th to 16th centuries.
Also worth a visit is Villa Algira, a small house that was once George Sand's refuge and is today a museum dedicated to the novelist.
Every August, the Romanesque church of Gargilesse-Dampierre hosts a well-known harp festival.
