Chateau de Castelnaud
Château de Castelnaud perches above the confluence of the Dordogne and Céou valleys in Périgord, France, its silhouette shaped by a 13th-century keep, 14th-century machicolations, and a circular artillery tower added in the early 16th century. Founded in the late 12th century, it was seized by Simon de Montfort during the Albigensian Crusade in 1214, then changed hands repeatedly between English and French forces throughout the Hundred Years' War before France retook it definitively on 7 October 1442.
Privately owned but open to visitors, it houses one of France's foremost museums of medieval warfare, displaying around 300 weapons alongside reconstructed trebuchets and siege engines. It attracted 245,000 visitors in 2022.
Visitor information
- Location
- Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Dordogne
- Country
- France
- Tier
- C (Worth a visit if you're already in the area)
- Coordinates
- 44.8158, 1.1489
- Official site
- https://castelnaud.com/
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Chateau de Castelnaud?
- Chateau de Castelnaud is in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Dordogne, France (approximately 44.8158, 1.1489).
- Can you visit Chateau de Castelnaud?
- Yes — Chateau de Castelnaud is open to visitors; see the official site at https://castelnaud.com/ for hours and tickets.
- What tier is Chateau de Castelnaud on the Castle Atlas?
- Chateau de Castelnaud is rated C tier on the Castle Atlas — Worth a visit if you're already in the area.
- What can you see at Chateau de Castelnaud?
- Château de Castelnaud perches above the confluence of the Dordogne and Céou valleys in Périgord, France, its silhouette shaped by a 13th-century keep, 14th-century machicolations, and a circular artillery tower added in the early 16th century. Founded in the late 12th century, it was seized by Simon de Montfort during the Albigensian Crusade in 1214, then changed hands repeatedly between English and French forces throughout the Hundred Years' War before France retook it definitively on 7 October 1442.