Château de Beynac

Perched on a sheer cliff above the village of Beynac-et-Cazenac, about three and a half kilometres upstream from La Roque-Gageac on the north bank of the Dordogne, Château de Beynac is everything a medieval castle should be: massive, dramatically sited, and genuinely ancient. It dates to the 12th century and was one of the four baronies of Périgord, which made it one of the most powerful fortresses in the region for four hundred years.

The interior has been extensively restored and includes a council chamber with its original vaulted ceiling, a baronial hall, and roof terraces with some of the best views in the Dordogne — across the river to Castelnaud, along the valley to La Roque-Gageac, and back to the Château de Marqueyssac on the hill. The village below the castle is itself beautiful, with narrow lanes climbing steeply from the riverbank through honey-coloured stone houses. Beynac is an easy drive or bicycle ride from La Roque-Gageac.

things to do sight
A story
Richard the Lionheart captured Beynac in 1189 and used it as a base for operations against the lords of Périgord. The castle was later demolished on his orders to prevent it being used against him — then rebuilt almost immediately. Its walls have been destroyed and rebuilt so many times that the current structure is essentially a medieval palimpsest, each century writing over the last.