Chateau de Beynac

Perched on top of the cliff face overlooking the village, the site of this castle/fortress is very imposing.  The castle is one of the best preserved and well known castles in the region.

It was was built in the 12th century by the Baron of Beynac (one of the four barons of Perigord region) to close the valley off from invaders. The sheer cliff face easily offputting for an assault from the river side, but the rolling pastures behind needing extra defences using double walls, double moats, one of which was a deepened natural ravine and a double barbican (a fortified gate).

No one was getting in there!

So, we lined up with everyone else (it was school holidays) for a journey back in time to the 1100s.

View over the Dordogne River

The Great Hall

Bedroom

Kitchen

Gate with Drawbridge at the Rear

Beynac-et-Cazenac – random village photos

Twilight over the Dordogne River

Doors, windows and rooftops

The Dordogne River from the Chateaux at Beynac-et-Cazenac

The Village of La Roque-Gageac – 5 kms east of Beynac along the Dordonge River

A Church in the Village of Domme – 10 kms from Beynac-et-Cazenac

A view from Domme looking back down the Dordogne towards Beynac-et-Cazenac

Sarlat – 10 km from Beynac popular for a huge outdoor market twice a week

Daglan

We had a recommendation for lunch at La Cantine, a restaurant in this tiny village.  Fabrice the Chef is a friend of Frederique, the owner of our apartment in Beynac.  A very photogenic village.

The food was good and the village was home to many artists with their work scattered around.  It had a very “arty” feel.

Below – a public clothes washing area and a book swap library.

Walnut Orchard

Food

Always time for more food photos 🙂  This was a restaurant recommended by Frederique.  We went there for lunch one day and was surprised to see Frederique with her husband and parents also enjoying lunch.

Chateaux des Milandes

The chateau des Milandes was built in the 15th century by Francois de Caumont for his young wife, who found Castelnaud rather cold and unwelcoming.  It has subsequently been added to and changed over the centuries to what you see today.

It eventually fell into disrepair and was restored by the American legendary music hall star Josephine Baker who rented it and subsequently bought the chateau in 1949.  It is unusual among Dordogne chateaus, as the most famous period in its history is the 20th century when Josephine Baker lived there.  She had a very interesting career as a daring black dancer/singer who subsequently adopted 12 children of different races.

Most of the inside of the chateau is set up as a monument to her with displays of her dresses, furnishings and tiled bathrooms designed by herself.  Unfortunately, she lost the chateau due to debt and died a pauper in Paris – a very sad story.

You are not allowed to take photos inside the chateau but I did sneak this one of the main stone spiral staircase.

The gardens and grounds are beautiful.

Birds of Prey Exhibition – an informative (I’m sure it was as the commentary was entirely in French) display of birds of prey – eagles, owls and falcons in the gardens of the Chateau.

And, it was a long way to go to see a Budgie!

The ultimate cubby house.

Jeff and Catherine xx