Ventadour, the cradle of the troubadours

In the 12th century, the Ventadour site was a real literary and artistic centre. It was here that the lord, Elbe II, tired of the wars, favoured the art of the troubadour and in particular "the ultimate love, courtly love" by inviting poets and singers to his castle to compete in poetic contests. In the 12th century, the region had four of the ten most famous troubadours. In less than a century, the whole of Europe adopted this new art of love, of which Ventadour became the centre.