La Souterraine


La Souterraine is a commune in the Creuse department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in central France.

Geography

La Souterraine is an area of farming and light industry, comprising the town and a few small hamlets. It is situated some west of Guéret, at the junction of the D1, D912, D951 and the N145 roads. It is also served by a TER railway link.
The small river Sédelle, a tributary of the Creuse, flows through the town.
The sources of the Benaize, a tributary of the Anglin, and the Brame, a tributary of the Gartempe, are both in the commune.

History

There is evidence of pre-Roman occupation here, attested by the discovery of Stone Age tools and a menhir. Remains of Roman villas and temples have been unearthed. In medieval times, a church and fortified walls were built. The name of the town, translating as ‘subterranean’, comes from the underground parts of the church, the crypt.

Population

Sights