Terrasson-Lavilledieu

Terrasson-Lavilledieu (French pronunciation: [tɛʁasɔ̃ lavildjø]; Occitan: Terrasson e La Vila Dieu, before 1997: Terrasson-la-Villedieu)^[3] is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. The commune was created in 1963 by the merger of the former communes Terrasson and Lavilledieu.^[4] Terrasson station has rail connections to Bordeaux, Périgueux and Brive-la-Gaillarde.

Terrasson-Lavilledieu
Commune
A general view of Terrasson
Coat of arms
Location of Terrasson-Lavilledieu
Terrasson-Lavilledieu Show map of France Terrasson-Lavilledieu Show map of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Coordinates: 45°07′51″N 1°18′07″E
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Dordogne
Arrondissement	Sarlat-la-Canéda
Canton	Terrasson-Lavilledieu
Intercommunality	Terrassonnais en Périgord Noir Thenon Hautefort
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Jean Bousquet[1]
Area 1	39.34 km2 (15.19 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	6,262
• Density	160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	24547 /24120
Elevation	82–299 m (269–981 ft) (avg. 88 m or 289 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Population

The population data given in the table below for 1962 and earlier refer to the former commune of Terrasson.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 2,398 —     1800 2,969 +3.10% 1806 2,880 −0.51% 1821 2,709 −0.41% 1831 2,935 +0.80% 1836 2,945 +0.07% 1841 2,893 −0.36% 1846 3,095 +1.36% 1851 3,220 +0.80% 1856 3,336 +0.71% 1861 3,234 −0.62% 1866 3,682 +2.63% 1872 3,680 −0.01% 1876 3,884 +1.36% 1881 4,078 +0.98% 1886 3,997 −0.40% 1891 3,864 −0.67% 1896 3,737 −0.67%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1901 3,627 −0.60% 1906 3,572 −0.31% 1911 3,794 +1.21% 1921 3,413 −1.05% 1926 3,570 +0.90% 1931 3,510 −0.34% 1936 3,657 +0.82% 1946 3,751 +0.25% 1954 3,684 −0.23% 1962 4,146 +1.49% 1968 5,528 +4.91% 1975 6,221 +1.70% 1982 6,305 +0.19% 1990 6,004 −0.61% 1999 6,180 +0.32% 2007 6,214 +0.07% 2012 6,237 +0.07% 2017 6,202 −0.11%
Source: EHESS[4] and INSEE (1968-2017)[5]

Sights

The Gardens of the Imagination

The Gardens of the Imagination (Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire)—classified as a remarkable garden by the French Ministry of Culture—are situated in Terrasson.^[6] It was designed in 1996 by landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson to present thirteen tableaux of the myths and legends of the history of gardens. It uses simple natural elements; trees, flowers, water and stone to suggest the passage of mankind from nature to agriculture to the city. It uses a symbolic sacred wood, a rose garden, topiary art, and fountains to tell the story.^[7]

See also

• Communes of the Dordogne department