Excideuil (; ) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. Geography Excideuil is located in the Périgord Vert area, on a limestone plateau between the upper courses of the rivers Isle and Auvézère. The river Loue runs through the town. Excideuil is located about from Limoges, from Périgueux, from Hautefort and from Tourtoirac. Its built-up area continues into the territory of the adjacent communes Saint-Martial-d'Albarède and Saint-Médard-d'Excideuil. History The first reference to Excideuil, as Exidolium is found in a will document from Aredius, also known as Yrieix, dated 572. The town has been referred also as Issidor, Excidour and Excideuilh. This name is made of the Celtic word ialo (meaning "clearing, glade", "place of") suffixed to a radical Exito (Gaul name) or Exitus. Excideuil was attacked in 1182 around Pentecost by Richard I of England, as mentioned in Rerum gallicarum et francicarum scriptores: Richardus, Henrici II filius, a patre Pictavensis Comes institutus, anno 1182 in exercitu Francorum Regis militabat adversus Philippum Flandriae Comitem. Eodem anno, mense julio, pace composita cum Lemovicensi vicecomite, duos ejus filios accepit obsides, et a Petragorico Comite castrum Petragoricum cum propugnaculis solo aequavit. Cum interim tractatum esset cum Engolismensibus et Petragoricensibus, circa Pentecosten Exidolium rediit, et ejusdem castri burgum cepit. Gui d'Excideuil is an Old French romance, written in the 12th century, whose text is now lost. Population Notable persons Thomas Robert Bugeaud (1784–1849), Marshal of France and Governor-General of Algeria Philippe Parrot (1831–1894), painter Sights Château d'Excideuil, 13th-18th century, national heritage site of France See also Communes of the Dordogne department References Recueil des historiens des Gaules et de la France: Rerum gallicarum et francicarum scriptores by Dom Michel Jean Joseph Brial External links Official website Official website of the school of Excudeuil Communes of Dordogne Arrondissement of Périgueux