Chateau de Hautefort - Dordogne

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Chateau de Hautefort, Castle, Dordogne, France

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Visit Chateau de Hautefort

40km east of Périgueux, Hautefort is one of the most prestigious châteaux in Dordogne and indeed South-West France and is a listed historical monument.

It stands in an enviable position overlooking the Auvézère Valley and Hautefort village, a grand chateau with two wings each terminating in a round tower. The whole is surrounded by impressive French style formal gardens. It is a style of chateau little known in the Dordogne and more like those built by the nobles in the Loire Valley.

Standing on the position of an earlier, 12th century, chateau Hautefort was built in the middle of the 17th century. After subsequently falling into disrepair, it became the life work of the Baron and Baronnesse de Bastard to reconstruct and renovate the chateau, a task that took several decades during the middle of the 20th century, to be completed by 1968 (after the baron had died his wife continued alone).

In a terrible turn of events, shortly after four decades of work had been completed the chateau burned to the ground. Undeterred the baroness resumed work again, and the chateau was again renovated. The resulting fine castle is a tribute to the eforts of the two of them (a room in one of the towers of the chateau commemorates the events of the incendiary in 1968).

Apart from the splendours of the building itself, Chateau de Hautefort contains an impressive collection of 17th century paintings and tapestries. It is one of the most popular and visited chateaux in the region.

Wandering around the chateau the rooms have lots of colour; with beautiful bedspreads and curtains, chairs with faded tapestry covers and the walls which are often painted in pale pastel colours. Huge vases of flowers are set out in each room and the polished wooden floors are one of the key features of the rooms. It is a chateau you feel you could happily live in unlike most chateaus which are often draughty old military structures or have a formality which would be hard to live with on a daily basis.

During July and August the Chateau is open Wednesday nights for a theatrical visit where you will be led back to the 17th century. These visits start at 9pm (information correct 2011).

Recent event: the 1998 file 'Ever After' with Drew Barrymore was filmed in the Dordogne including Chateau Hautefort and Chateau Fenelon (see other Dordogne films).

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

Gardens of the Chateau de Hautefort

The gardens of the Chateau de Hautefort have been awarded France's Jardin Remarkable status. They comprise a beautiful French Formal garden with lots of clipped hedges producing geometric shapes and parterres which are filled with varying planting displays. Included in these are some stunning burgundy coloured roses. These formal gardens surround the castle but a little further away is a lovley English style landscaped park. The gardens were designed in the 19th century by the Compte de Choulot, a famous landscape architect of the time.

From the gardens and the chateau you get some excellent views over the village of Hautefort and the surrounding countryside.

Village of Hautefort

The village of Hautefort nestles below the chateau and is dominated by the Ancient Hospice. This was built by the Marquis of Hautefort in 1669 in order to welcome the poor and give them religeous help. This quickly graduated into medical help especially with the help of a group of nuns who remained until 1995. The building, which is in the shape of a greek cross is now home to a museum of medicine with a recreated sick room from the 17th century as well as instruments of this period. The tourist office can also be found in the building.