Biron Castle towers over the green rolling hills of the landscape around it. One of the most imposing chateaux of the Dordogne, Biron is also probably the warmest and most welcoming castle and not only can hold its own with any of the best that the Loire Valley has to offer, but should be on the itinerary of every tourist that comes to France.After passing from French to English and back to French hands -- a most prized object coveted at any cost, it ended up as the privately owned home of the Gontaut-Biron family for eight centuries and as such lived in and used as a home for many many generations -- which inevitably leaves its indelible marks of history and life and love and drama and pathos.
Between the twelfth and eighteenth centuries the castle underwent many restoration and transformation projects -- which give it an interesting and 'different' aspect -- one is never quite sure what its background is or where its architectural roots lie -- around every corner, from every other angle, it presents you with yet another surprise - almost like a child playing games with you.
However, the restoration projects may have made the castle a mish-mash of styles and architectural designs, but the work on it has always been of the highest standard, and today, as the property of the Dordogne Département, Biron Castle, one of the original Périgord’s four baronies (the other three were Beynac, Mareuil and Bourdeilles) merits its listing as an Historic Monument.
What makes it so different and so much more welcoming than most of the other chateaux in the Dordogne, is the feel and look of a chateau still lived in today --- walking through the twelfth-century keep, the Renaissance apartments and the immense vaulted kitchen as well as the beautiful chapel with its tombs, almost makes you believe that you might catch a glimpse of one of the members of the Gontaut-Biron family. And the views out of the windows in every direction over the vast beautiful landscape, are breath-taking.
The Chateau Biron still keeps its historical ties to the nearby fortified market town of Monpazier, which was built in 1284.Related articles:
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