Visit to Dordogne

Bergerac - Castelnaud - Marqueyssac - La Roque Gageac - Domme - Sarlat - Beynac - Belves - Monpazier - Biron

The castle of Biron can be distinguished from several kilometres around, as it is placed over a hill in the middle of a broad plain.
It was constructed in 11th century. It has suffered from diverse vicissitudes throughout 12th to 18th centuries, such as One Hundred Years war or Religion wars. The name comes from the family Gontaut-Biron, owners of the castle for 800 years. The family contributed with several transformations to the actual shape from 12th to 18th centuries.

It is an imposing mole and most of its attractive resides on the successive constructions added throughout centuries in a total harmony. The main buildings date from 15th century.
The chapel (16th century) is very high, with two floors. The upper part for the lords, and lower part for the rest of citizens. It keeps a tomb considered as a masterpiece of French Renaissance sculpture.

This is not a big problem because it is made up for the variety of things you see such as the jail, an alchemy laboratory, the kitchen or a reproduction of a tanners medieval street.

We visited the Renaissance chambers and moved through yards and walls that offered exceptional views of landscapes and fortified towers.

When we were driving back home at the end of our holidays we made a brief stop in the Lanquais castle , as it was on our way back. It is a Renaissance castle (15th century) that can be visited (we didn't enter). We think that the gardens and surroundings of this castle were untidy in general, but we have to take into account that it was not the high season and that maybe the inside worth the stop.

We spent some unforgettable days around the region, and in my opinion if you plan a relaxing holidays this is an ideal land, for example to stay for one or two weeks in a old house with swimming pool. The Perigord has a great concentration interesting places in little space.