An 8th-century priory founded by monks from Charroux Abbey attracted craftsmen and farmers, who settled within fortified walls. In 1308 the Viscounts of Turenne granted the village tax exemptions that spurred further growth[]. After a 19th-century decline (phylloxera and quarrying), local enthusiasts formed “Les Amis de Collonges” and secured its listing as a historic monument in 1942.

Almost every building is hewn from local vermilion sandstone—hence the name. Église Saint-Pierre (11th–15th c.) boasts a white-stone Romanesque tympanum and was fortified during the Wars of Religion. La Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs (14th c.) and the Halle Henri IV market hall (16th c.) remain focal points. Noble residences include the Maison de la Sirène, Manoir de Vassinhac and Castel Maussac, each with distinctive towers and mullioned windows

In 1982 Mayor Charles Ceyrac launched the “Plus Beaux Villages” association right here, aiming to restore endangered rural gems and boost local economies through responsible tourism. Today the label covers 157 villages across France