Statue of La Boétie

Place de la Grande Rigaudie

A stop on the Sarlat audio-guided tour, Place de la Grande Rigaudie is a vast space marking the transition between the medieval centre and the modern city. At its end stands the courthouse, built in 1866 by the architect Auguste Dubet in a neoclassical style.

Gabriel Tarde, a Sarlat thinker

The solemn facade of the courthouse, with its monumental steps and triangular pediment, reflects the importance of justice in local life. In front of it stands the bust of Gabriel Tarde, born in Sarlat in 1843. A magistrate and great thinker, a pioneer of modern sociology, he argued in criminology that criminality is not innate but influenced by the social environment.

What to see

Gabriel Tarde's work, long overlooked, is now being rediscovered. The square also bears a statue of Etienne de La Boetie, another great Sarlat figure. This open space offers a breathing point between the old town and the more recent districts.

Practical information

Place de la Grande Rigaudie is on the edge of the historic centre of Sarlat. Freely accessible, it can be discovered at any time.

Who was Gabriel Tarde ?

A magistrate born in Sarlat in 1843, a pioneer of modern sociology and criminology.

What is found on the square ?

The 1866 courthouse, the bust of Gabriel Tarde and a statue of Etienne de La Boetie.