Everything French Travel Magazine November 2013 | Page 66

Chateau de Beynac
Chateau Beynac is built on a plateau with a

sheer cliff to one side on the banks of the
Dordogne River. With the cliff acting as a
natural defense. The defences were built up
on the plateau: double crenulated walls,
double moats, one of which was a deepened
natural ravine, and double barbican.
In 1050 Hélie de Beynac, the first known and
recorded lord, installed the first fortified
presence Castrum.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the
power of Beynac permitted it to become an
important influence within the region. The
Lords of Beynac contributed greatly to the
anti-English wars, while all the while
expanding their territory.
In the 15th century, Beynac was designated
as a Barony and became very prosperous.
The religious wars also brought new
sufferings to the population, in particular in
the 16th century. This combined with new
taxes, brutal winters and no food saw great
unrest amongst the people. Gatherings were
organised in the forests, the peasant
uprising, the "croquants", had started. This
was the start of the French Revolution.
In 1761, the last heiress of the Lords and
Barons of Beynac, Marie-Claude, married
Christophe de Beaumont. When Marie-Claud
died in 1811, after eight centuries of history,
the line of the Beynacs disappeared.
The castle was bought in 1962 by Lucien
Grosso who has restored it.
At the chateau you can view beautiful rich
tapestries showing hunting and other scenes
from the lives of the lords of the period. The
Château de Beynac has been listed as a
monument historique by the French Ministry
of Culture since 1944.
The Chapel
As with numerous chapels in the middle
ages, this one was dedicated to the mother
of Christ: Marie, but locally, for the
Inhabitants it is: Notre-Dame de Beynac.
The origin of the first building dates back to
the 12th and 13 centuries. The major part of
the modifications and changes coming during
the 14th and 15th centuries.

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