Impregnable Fortresses: The Most Beautiful Medieval Castles

In the heart of the Périgord Noir region, the Château de Castelnaud, built on a rocky spur, offers a magnificent panorama of the Dordogne Valley. Founded in the 12th century, it is a perfect example of medieval fortification. Today, it houses an important collection of arms and armor. On the bastion, the most powerful siege engines of the Middle Ages are reconstructed in attack positions. Castelnaud, or rather Castelnau, the new castle, was founded in the 12th century. Owned by the Cathar lord Bernard de Casnac at the beginning of the 13th century, it was captured by Simon de Montfort in 1214 during the Albigensian Crusade. A new castle was then rebuilt. The keep and the curtain wall date from this period. During the Hundred Years' War, the castle was often in the English camp. After a siege ordered by King Charles VII in 1442, the French finally prevailed. With the conflict over, the castle was returned to the Caumont family, who had owned it since 1368. They reinforced the defensive system: the lower enclosure and the new barbican were equipped with gun ports, and then the artillery tower was built. During the Wars of Religion, the castle was entrusted to Captain Geoffroy de Vivans, born in Castelnaud. Nicknamed "the Battler," he was feared throughout Périgord. This reputation kept attackers away from the castle during this period. In the 15th century, new residential buildings were added to improve the comfort of the medieval fortress. Nevertheless, the Caumont family left Castelnaud to live in their new castle at Les Milandes. In the 17th century, the castle was rarely occupied. Abandoned during the Revolution, it steadily deteriorated and even served as a stone quarry in the 19th century. Classified as a Historical Monument in 1966, it has since been the subject of spectacular restoration campaigns, and since 1985 has housed "the Museum of War in the Middle Ages".

A fortified castle dating from the 13th, 15th, 16th, and 18th centuries, listed as a Historical Monument, Bonaguil Castle is located in the Lot-et-Garonne department, on the border with the Lot and a stone's throw from the Dordogne. It is only 2 hours from Bordeaux and Toulouse, and 1 hour from Agen, Cahors, and Sarlat. Perched atop its rocky spur, it overlooks the valley and the medieval village. It forms a unique ensemble in Europe, of gigantic proportions and in a remarkable state of preservation. During a guided or self-guided visit, Bonaguil, its keep, its cave, its drawbridge, and more, immerses you in the heart of medieval history. Today, Bonaguil is an essential reference for specialists, an ideal educational tool for students and teachers, and a place of enjoyment for every visitor.

The Medieval Ideal Reinvented Rising from dense forests like a mirage, the Château de Pierrefonds offers the purest and most imposing image of a medieval fortress. Yet, this stone colossus is the product of a unique architectural adventure: left in ruins by history, it was entirely rebuilt in the 19th century by the audacious Viollet-le-Duc under the impetus of Napoleon III. More than a simple restoration, it is a masterful interpretation of medieval architecture, blending defensive realism with decorative fantasy. With its eight massive towers, crenellated curtain walls, and incredible defensive system, the exterior impresses with its power. Inside, visitors discover a magical world: the Hall of Heroines, an immense gallery with painted and sculpted decorations, testifies to the imperial luxury and chivalric ideals of the era. This dreamlike setting, a blend of historical reality and theatrical scenery, has naturally captivated the world of film and television (notably for the Merlin series). A visit to Pierrefonds is a fascinating journey into the land of legends, knights, and French architectural genius.

Built in just one year (1196-1197) by Richard the Lionheart, this stone colossus proudly overlooks the Seine at Les Andelys. A masterpiece of medieval military architecture, it was designed to protect Rouen from the ambitions of King Philip Augustus of France. Its scalloped walls, a major technical innovation for the time, made it a fortress renowned for its impregnability. Although in ruins today, the site exudes a rare evocative power. Visitors can explore the deep moats and the upper bailey to understand the sophisticated defense systems of the Middle Ages, while admiring one of the most beautiful panoramas of the Seine Valley.

Guédelon is, above all, a scientific, historical, educational, touristic, and human construction site. At a time when nature and ecology are the watchwords, Guédelon is also a building site where the Middle Ages offer numerous avenues for the green builders of tomorrow. Guédelon is a pioneering construction site: they will tell you all about cob walls, the assembly of rubble stones, lime walls, the making of clay or wooden tiles, the use of natural pigments, and the braiding of linen or hemp ropes.