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Visit Chateau de Puyguilhem

Chateau de Puyguilhem is located just one km from Villars, in the northern part of the Dordogne department (south-east of Nontron).

It is the setting of the castle that makes it so special, with the forests of the northern Dordogne closing in on the back of the chateau and open meadow to the front - it was this open view to the front that give the original, medieval, castle on the same site its defensive strength.

Chateau de Puyguilhel was constructed in the 16th century and it is a fine example of a Renaissance castle. There are many of the has typical features of a castle of this type - grand fireplaces, an impressive spiral staircase and perilously steep slate-tiled roofs.

The style has more in common with the castles of the Loire Valley (far to the north) than it does with the majority of the Dordogne castles, most of which avoided the 16th-17th century renovations characteristic of the castles of the Loire.

Inside the castle you can see their impressive collection of furniture and tapestries, while outside the grounds of Chateau de Puyguilhem have been attractively restored, and contain some smaller buildings of note, such as the pigeonnier.

You can also visit the Dordogne castles and chateaux at Dordogne castles and chateaux, now with an interactive google map.

Note: photo is copyright.