The village of Bourdeilles is an attractive village next to the river to the south-east of…read moreBrantome, and is dominated by its Chateau.
There are two distinct parts to the Chateau de Bourdeilles:
1. A sturdy fortress dating back to the 13th century, constructed on a rocky spur and dominated by an octagonal keep. The octagonal keep is 35meters high and has walls 2.4 meters thick and it dominates views of the village. It is possible to climb to the top and get some superb views of the village below.
2. The Renaissance castle (the part designed by Jacquett de Montbron) with richly furnished rooms such as the sumptuous 'Salon Doré with a beautiful painted ceiling. There is a prestigious collection of furniture including the gilt Spanish bed of Charles V.
Both castles are surrounded by sturdy fortified walls
One striking feature of this castle is that it was designed by a woman, Jacquett de Montbron.
Entrance is approx 7 Euro for adults and 4.5 Euro for Children. The place is well worth a visit and a trip to the top of the huge tower is a must (except for sufferers of vertigo!).
There are lots of nice little cafes in the town where you can get your energy back afterwards after the long climb to the top of the tower.
