Castillonnes

Visit Castillonnes, Aquitaine

Castillonnes is about 25km south of Bergerac and is in the northern Lot-et-Garonne department in the SW of France. It is one of the many small and attractive bastide towns in the region which has avoided becoming part of the tourist trail and so even in the summer it remains a peaceful, working French town.

Castillonnes is on a hill and at the end of the Rue du Petit Paris are some impressive views over the Lot et Garonne countryside.

Castillonnes dates its founding back to 1259 though before this there was a castle already here. The bastide town was built under the orders of Alphonse de Poitiers.

The centre of Castillonnes is around the Place des Cornieres where the beautiful town hall dominates one whole side of the square.  This building originally housed a religious order linked to the abbey of Cadouin. Much of the building was the tithe barn, housing the rents and tithes of the tenant farmers. These would be paid in the form of sacks of grain and casks of wine.  It is now home to the Mairie and the Tourist Office.

On one corner of the square is the church much of which is fairly new as earlier versions were destroyed in the Hundred Years War and the War of Religions. Inside there is an 18th century Gothic altar and some attractive modern stained glass windows. Adjoining the church is a presbytery dating from the 18th century. Take a look in its garden to see its unusual hexagonal tower.

The main street leading out from the Place des Cornieres is the Grand Rue. Every Tuesday morning  an excellent market fills the Grand Rue and the Place des Cornieres.

Leaving the square on the other side is the Rue de Petit Paris and during the 18 and 19th centuries most of the local noble families had winter houses here. One of these, the Maison de cours de Thomazeau is now a Historic Monument. It was designed by the architect of the fabulous theatre in Bordeaux.

The Rue de Guirlity leads to remains of the 16th century ramparts and steep steps lead down to one of the old gateways. Another can be seen just a little  to the left.

Another road leading out from the square, the Rue de la Paix has a house with a "pontet" extending over the road. The lovely Hotel des Remparts is on this street. It is a nice hotel and has an excellent restaurant. It was originally a house owned by Baron de Beraud.

On the corner of the square with the rue du Lion d'Or is the oldest building in Castillonnes. It is 14th century and has some gothic-style twin windows and at the end a half -timbered building quite common in this part of Lot et Garonne.

See Aquitaine and Lot-et-Garonne (the region and department for Castillonnes) for more travel ideas...

Photos of Castillonnes

Click any picture to start the gallery

Suggested places to visit near Castillonnes, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Beaumont-du-Perigord 19km; Miramont-de-Guyenne 19km; Monflanquin 19km; Chateau de Biron 22km; Saint-Avit-Senieur 22km; Monpazier 24km; Allemans-du-Dropt 24km; Montferrand-du-Perigord 24km; Bergerac 24km; Molieres 25km; Chateau de Gavaudun 25km;

Castillonnes tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Parc et potager de Pouthet - remarkable garden (15km) : Eglise Sainte-Croix (Beaumont-du-Perigord) - religious monument (21km) : Eglise de Sainte Livrade (Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot) - religious monument (28km) : Eglise de Saint-Hilaire et Eglise de Saint-Nicholas (Tremolat) - religious monument (31km) : Ets Latour-Marliac - remarkable garden (31km) : Jardins de la Bourlie - remarkable garden (33km) : Jardin de Planbuisson - remarkable garden (33km) : Abbaye de Cadouin (Le Buisson-de-Cadouin) - religious monument (33km) :

See more places and a map at places near Castillonnes