Beaufort is really two castles side by side. The medieval fortress is a roofless ruin of red sandstone walls and towers, built and extended between the eleventh and sixteenth centuries on a rocky outcrop above a small lake. You can climb through the gatehouse and walk along the ramparts; the views down the wooded ravine are excellent.
The Renaissance château next door is a small but elegant white-stuccoed manor built in 1649, complete with original interiors — formal rooms, a banqueting hall, and the original kitchens with their copper pots still hanging. A combined ticket covers both buildings; the château can only be visited on a guided tour, run several times a day in summer and on weekends in winter. A small distillery in the château produces the famous Beaufort blackcurrant liqueur (Cassero), and a tasting is included in the tour.