La Chaise du Diable

Collonges-la-Rouge

On the wooded slopes of the Stolan massif, between Collonges-la-Rouge and Meyssac, a red sandstone rock shaped by erosion into a broad armchair has for generations borne the name of the Devil's Chair. The oral tradition of the Bas-Limousin, relayed today by the Collonges-la-Rouge tourist office, makes it the throne of Satan himself, who is said to have presided over the witches' sabbaths here: according to the popular tale, every Carnival night at midnight the cats of the district flew off to the neighbouring valley of Les Négrénés to join the demonic assembly — and indeed a hamlet close by bears the unsettling name of La Châtie. Other versions tell of a horseman leading young women towards the flames, providentially stopped by a priest's holy water. This kind of tale, common in the red sandstone country of the Bas-Limousin where the houses themselves take their colour from the same rock, belongs to the memory of the peasant evening gatherings that feared lonely places and strange rock formations. The site is now part of the GR® de Pays du Midi Corrézien, a 118 km route created in 2019 linking the red sandstone villages of Meyssac, Collonges-la-Rouge and Turenne, which showcases this legendary heritage alongside the medieval buildings listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France.

Getting there : Via the GR® de Pays du Midi Corrézien (118 km), starting from Meyssac or Collonges-la-Rouge; about 30 minutes' walk through the forest, 2 km south-east of the village.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound