Château de Campagnac
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de Campagnac, located in Sarlat-la-Canéda (Dordogne), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.9240, 1.1898
- Mérimée Reference
- PA24000020
Sentinel of the Middle Ages at the gates of Sarlat, the château de Campagnac reveals its polygonal tower with machicolations and its stone spiral staircase, witnesses to a turbulent history between the English and the people of Sarlat.
History
Perched on the outskirts of Sarlat-la-Canéda, in the heart of the Périgord Noir, Château de Campagnac is one of those discreet fortresses that, century after century, have shaped the destiny of one of France's most beautiful towns. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1998, it embodies the complexity of a heritage shaped by wars, family successions and the architectural ambitions of several eras. What sets Campagnac apart from the many other châteaux in the Sarlat region is the skilful articulation of its volumes: two medieval main buildings are elegantly joined around a polygonal tower, which in itself accounts for most of the site's architectural virtuosity. The machicolated battlements, with their three-sided corbels, bear witness to a defence system designed down to the last detail in the late Middle Ages. Inside, the stone spiral staircase winds its way under a barrel vault supported by graceful prismatic brackets - a masterpiece of medieval engineering that few visitors have the chance to admire. The visit offers a singular plunge into the strata of time. The gilded limestone walls, characteristic of Sarlat buildings, tell of both the military robustness of the 14th-15th centuries and the softening of the Renaissance. A third building, added in the 19th century, is a reminder that Campagnac has never stopped evolving to meet the needs of its successive inhabitants. Now owned by the town of Sarlat, the château is part of the rich heritage of this listed medieval town, just a stone's throw from the famous lantern of the dead and the lively streets of the historic centre. For the curious visitor, Campagnac offers an authentic alternative to the major tourist routes, far from the crowds, in an unspoilt atmosphere that invites contemplation and historical reverie.
Architecture
Château de Campagnac is part of the great tradition of Périgord fortresses, combining medieval defensive structures with residential features inherited from the Renaissance. The complex comprises two main buildings, erected in the 14th and 16th centuries, linked on their southern facades by a polygonal tower, which is the centrepiece of the system. This tower still has a machicolated parapet walk supported by three-sided corbels, a defence system that protected the foot of the walls and bears witness to a highly accomplished military design, typical of the late Gothic period in Périgord. Inside, the tower houses a stone spiral staircase, the shaft of which is covered by a barrel vault over a central core: the transverse corbels fall onto beautiful prismatic brackets, a rare combination of practicality and decorative refinement that evokes the best of the Périgord workshops of the late Middle Ages. The main buildings, built of local limestone in the warm colours characteristic of the Périgord Noir region, have simple elevations punctuated by mullioned windows in the oldest parts and wider openings in the Renaissance alterations. A third building, added in the 19th century in a spirit of romantic reconstruction, completes the ensemble without detracting from the overall harmony. The articulation of these different volumes around the central tower creates a picturesque and varied silhouette, a faithful reflection of the historical stratification of the monument.
Related Figures
Famille de Roux — seigneurs du château aux XVe-XVIe siècles, acteurs de la transformation résidentielle de la forteresseFamille d'Abzac — derniers seigneurs nobles de Campagnac avant la Révolution françaisePropriétaire anonyme du XIXe siècle — initiateur des importantes transformations et agrandissements romantiques de l'édificeAutorités sarladaises médiévales — commanditaires du premier château au XIIIe siècle, dans le cadre de la défense avancée de SarlatÉdouard de Montfort — représentant du pouvoir anglais en Périgord durant la guerre de Cent Ans, dont les troupes occupèrent brièvement la forteresse
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de Campagnac located?
Château de Campagnac is located in Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Château de Campagnac built?
Château de Campagnac dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Château de Campagnac open to visitors?
Château de Campagnac is currently closed to visitors.