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Chateau de Castelnaud

Visit Chateau de Castelnaud, Aquitaine

Chateau de Castelnaud is a very impressive medieval castle in a picturesque setting on the side of a hill towards the south of the Dordogne department. It is to the south of Beynac and west of Domme.

History of Chateau de Castelnaud

Built originally in the 12th century, the castle faces Chateau de Beynac across the Dordogne River. The castle has had a very turbulent history.

It first saw action during the during the Albigensian crusade under simon de Montfort against the cathars, when the castle belonged to Bernard de Casnac, a cathar. In 1214 the castle was seized from de Casnac, who then regained it a year later and hanged all members of the occupying garrison. He was the driven out again, this time by the Archbishop of Bordeaux, who ordered the castle be burned.

Rebuilt in the 13th century, during the Hundred Years War after 1337 Chateau de Castelnaud was in the hands of the Caumont family and part of English ruled Aquitaine, while the Chateau de Beynac was part of France. Frequent battles meant the castle changed hands several times between the English and the French, resolved only by a final French siege in 1442.

The Hundred Years War was to continue until 1453, after which the Caumont family regained ownership of the castle which was again repaired and substantially reinforced. Much of the castle we see today dates from this period.

The Caumont family ruled the region brutally, and although they chose to side against the catholics during the Wars of Religion the family was too feared for anyone to launch an attack.

By now the medieval castle was becoming unsuitable for everyday living accommodation and the family built and lived in the Chateau des Milandes a little way to the south. over the centuries, and particularly after the revolution, the castle slowly become a derelict ruin.

Visiting Chateau de Castelnaud

There is much to enjoy in a visit to Chateau de Castelnaud, which has been extensively restored over the last few decades.

The castle is now dedicated to explaining warfare in the middle ages. The Museum of Medieval Warfare in the castle explains some of the many unpleasant pursuits that passed for war in the 13th century, and has a wide range of medieval armoury and full-scale recreations of medieval weapons (seeing how the weapons and medieval warfare worked is the highlight of a visit).

Chateau de Castelnaud is now the most visited castle in the south-west of France.

The castle also has very good views across the Dordogne valley, the river and villages such as nearby La Roque-Gageac, and of course to the longstanding enemy at chateau de Beynac.

See a more detailed article about Chateau Castelnaud in our French Castles section.

See more Dordogne castles.

Suggested places to visit near Chateau de Castelnaud, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Domme 5km; Sarlat 10km; Saint-Cyprien 10km; Chateau de Puymartin 11km; Belves 12km; Chateau de Montfort 12km; Abri de Cap Blanc 15km; Font-de-Gaume 16km; Les Eyzies 17km; Chateau de Commarque 18km; Gourdon (Lot) 19km; Abri of Laugerie-Haute 19km; La-Roque-Saint-Christophe 21km; Le Bugue 21km; Villefranche-du-Perigord 21km; Cadouin 22km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Chateau de Castelnaud

Chateau de Castelnaud tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Jardins de Marqueyssac - remarkable garden (1km) : Jardins de l'Albarède - remarkable garden (3km) : Eglise notre-Dame de Nativité (Cenac-et-Saint-Julien) - religious monument (5km) : Jardins du château de Caudon - remarkable garden (5km) : Jardin de Conty - remarkable garden (8km) : Cathédrale Saint-Sardos (Sarlat) - religious monument (10km) : Eglise Notre Dame de l'Assomption (Belves) - religious monument (12km) : Jardin de la Daille - remarkable garden (15km) :