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 60 km (37 mi) from Limoges, 34 km (21 mi) from Périgueux, 15 km (9.3 mi) from Hautefort and 12 km (7.5 mi) 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:
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