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Castles · Dordogne
Château de Beynac
It is probably from the course of the Dordogne that the fortress looks most impressive.
View full page →The most beautiful castles of the Dordogne valley
A historic face-off between French and English castles during the Hundred Years' War, the Dordogne valley lines up one of the highest concentrations of medieval castles in France, often perched directly above the river.
This selection brings together the most emblematic fortresses of the Périgord Noir, from Beynac to Castelnaud, sworn enemies who still stare each other down from their respective cliffs.
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Castles · Dordogne
Château de Castelnaud
Facing the Château de Beynac, whose implacable rival it was in the endless conflicts that punctuate the history of the Middle Ages.
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Castles · Dordogne
Château de Commarque
In the Vézère valley, on a wild site, the château de Commarque was built in the twelfth century by the abbots of Sarlat to counter the power of the Beynacs.
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Castles · Dordogne
Château de Losse
The medieval fortress built on a sheer drop overlooks the Vézère valley. It is enclosed by walls and bordered by deep moats.
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Castles · Dordogne
Château des Milandes
In the heart of the Black Périgord, the château des Milandes overlooks the Dordogne river. It was Lord François de Caumont who had this residence built in 1489 at the request of his wife, Claude de Cardaillac.
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Castles · Dordogne
Château de Monbazillac
The château de Monbazillac, owned by the Monbazillac cellar since 1960, presents a unique and original architecture, a mix of medieval defensive systems and Renaissance elegance.
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Castles · Dordogne
Not open to visitors
Château de Montfort
The château de Montfort stands literally on a rocky ledge overlooking the river and the cliffs below.
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Castles · Dordogne
Château de Puymartin
Puymartin, built around 1270 and once surrounded below by a village of the same name, served as a border between France and England when the Hundred Years' War began; it was then pillaged, stripped of its crenellations, ramparts, towers and roofs.
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Castles · Dordogne
Château de Biron
Seat of one of the four baronies of Périgord, this original fortress has undergone many architectural alterations over the centuries.
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Castles · Dordogne
Château de Hautefort
The castle stands on a rocky spur that overlooks the commune and the village of Hautefort.
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