1. 2002
  2. France, June/July 2002
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Castelnaud, July 2002

Castelnaud is the great rival to Beynac, then and now. Both are magical, but Castelnaud claims to be the "most visited castle in the South of France". It holds a musuem of medieval warfare, with various pieces of original arms, armour, and artillery scattered throughout, and also some re-created catapults and such.

Castelnaud, founded in the 12th century, was ceded to the English in 1259, but reverted to the French in 1273. The rivalry with the barons of Beynac was subsumed by the start of the Hundred Years' War in 1337, during which the barons of Castelnaud often sided with the English. In 1442 the French finally recaptured the castle for good after a three-week siege.

After this Castelnaud was peaceful. In the Wars of Religion it was in the hands of a powerful Huegenot captain, and it was not attacked. An impressive artillery tower was built in 1520, but only to reinforce the dominance of the castle, which fell gradually into disuse and ruin, quarried for its stone, until named an Historic Monument in 1969. Along with structural reconstruction, many rooms have been given over to museum displays, an armour maker's workshop, explanatory videos, and so on. They also give workshops on "The art of chain mail" and other fun subjects.
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Approaching the castle from the village
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Approaching the castle from the village

  • Approaching the castle from the village
  • Approaching closer from the village
  • Looking up to the main tower
  • Gatekeeper's house, covered with flowers
  • Looking straight up the main tower
  • Another view up the main tower
  • The artillery tower
  • View from a high window
  • Benjamin and Grandpa Tor looking in
  • Beyond the castle walls, the Céou river valley
  • Main tower, from inside the castle
  • View down a wooden chute
  • Wall-mounted catapult, Beynac in the distance
  • Benjamin on the curtain wall
  • Isabel and Benjamin on the curtain wall, admiring the view down
  • The Dordogne, with Beynac in the distance
  • The great trébuchet, which can throw 50 kg (100+ pound) stone balls more than 180 meters (about 600 feet)
  • A parting view
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