Château des Milandes
CastleHidden Treasure
Perched in the heart of the Périgord Noir, Château des Milandes was once the home of 20th-century icon Josephine Baker. Its flamboyant Gothic architecture and extraordinary history make it a unique monument in France.
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History
Nestling on a rocky promontory overlooking the Dordogne valley, just a stone's throw from the famous Château de Castelnaud, Château des Milandes offers one of the most breathtaking panoramas in the Périgord Noir. This stately home, built at the end of the 15th century, elegantly blends the last flourishes of the flamboyant Gothic style with the first stirrings of the Renaissance, in the transitional style so characteristic of the châteaux of the Dordogne. What really sets Les Milandes apart from all the other châteaux in the region is its incredible twentieth-century destiny: that of having been chosen by Joséphine Baker, dancer, singer, resistance fighter and civil rights activist, as the setting for her wildest dream. The American star set up her famous "Village of the World" here, housing twelve adopted children of different nationalities, a living symbol of universal brotherhood. The château became much more than a home: it became a human manifesto. A visit to Les Milandes is an experience on two levels: that of the medieval castle, with its crenellated towers, dry moat, large sculpted fireplaces and period-furnished rooms; and that of the museum dedicated to Josephine Baker, one of the most complete in the world, where stage costumes, photographs and personal documents vividly portray the extraordinary career of this woman who was set up as a symbol. A bronze statue of her stands in the main courtyard, dressed for the stage and welcoming visitors. The terraced gardens, restored in the Renaissance style with embroidered parterres and fountains, offer an exceptional setting for contemplation and photography. Falconry shows, of which Les Milandes is one of the top venues in the Dordogne, punctuate the days and delight families. Today, the château is one of the most visited private monuments in the Périgord, a destination that combines architectural beauty, history and human commitment.
Architecture
The Château des Milandes is a remarkable example of the late flamboyant Gothic style at the transition to the Renaissance, characteristic of Périgord seigneuries at the end of the 15th century. The building consists of a main building flanked by corner towers with slate-roofed pepperpot roofs, linked by curtain walls of blonde Périgord stone. The facades feature large cross-mullioned windows adorned with fine Gothic mouldings and sculpted pinnacles, while the dormers in the attic already feature Italian-inspired triangular pediments - a sign of the first Renaissance influences to penetrate south-west France. The interior features large rooms with monumental carved stone fireplaces, some decorated with coats of arms, foliage and figures. Exposed beamed ceilings and cold stone slabs add to the authentic atmosphere. A spiral staircase, housed in a turret, leads to the different levels with the sober elegance typical of the late Middle Ages. The renovations carried out by Joséphine Baker in the mid-twentieth century, although sometimes anachronistic, have preserved the essence of the historic building. The terraced gardens, laid out below the château on the slope overlooking the Dordogne, have been restored according to Renaissance principles: geometric parterres embroidered with boxwood, a central fountain, hornbeam hedges and paved paths. Together, they form a green setting that highlights the spectacular setting of the château on its rocky spur.
Related Figures
François de Caumont — seigneur de Castelnaud, commanditaire du château vers 1489Claude de Cardaillac — épouse de François de Caumont, pour qui le château fut édifiéLa famille de Caumont — grande famille noble du Périgord, propriétaire pendant deux sièclesJoséphine Baker — danseuse, chanteuse, résistante, propriétaire des Milandes de 1947 à 1969Jo Bouillon — chef d'orchestre, époux de Joséphine Baker, co-gestionnaire du domaineBrigitte Bardot — soutien public de Joséphine Baker lors de l'expulsion de 1969
Map
Coordinates not available for this monument.
