Sarlat La Caneda ….Chateau Beynac and Marqueyssac Gardens
Categories France, France & Spain Road trip 2025....on the road yet againSeptember 5, 2025
We wake up under cloudy skies and manage a decent breakfast from our Carrefour supplies. Between the coughing and sneezing, it sounds a bit like a hospital ward, but we’re determined not to let it slow us down. The plan is to visit a château and gardens near Sarlat. On the way, we spot an imposing castle perched high on a cliff and decide to take a detour:
One thing leads to another: we park, then walk, and soon we’re climbing the steep path up to the Château de Beynac…
Château de Beynac is one of the best-preserved and most dramatic castles in the Dordogne. Built in the 12th century by the barons of Beynac, it played a key role during the Hundred Years’ War, strategically positioned to oversee the Dordogne River. Its cliffside location made it almost impregnable, and from the ramparts, one can see for miles across the valley, including rival castles that once belonged to the English. The fortress features thick defensive walls, a Romanesque keep, and later additions reflecting its long military history. Today, it offers visitors not only a glimpse into medieval life but also breathtaking views over the river, where canoes and boats drift past the town below.
The climb is steep but rewarding, with spectacular vistas at every turn. A steady stream of fellow visitors makes it a lively but mellow experience. Finally, we turn a corner and find the entrance to the chateau guarded by a knight…
Continuing on, we have a great view of the chateau and over the countryside below, with the aforementioned chateaux in the last image…
By the time we descend, the weather has brightened, and things are looking promising for the afternoon. After a quick picnic lunch, we head on he road to the Marqueyssac Gardens, which are only 15 minutes away.
The Marqueyssac Gardens are among the most enchanting landscapes in the Dordogne. Laid out in the 19th century around a château dating back to the 17th century, the gardens are famed for their 150,000 hand-pruned boxwoods, clipped into whimsical, almost dreamlike shapes. Winding pathways extend for several kilometres along a ridge, offering panoramic views of the Dordogne River valley, with Chateaux Beynac, Castelnaud, and other castles visible in the distance.
It is a pleasant walk, and we pause frequently to take in the vistas. Today, the gardens host cultural events, candlelight evenings, and exhibitions, and there is also a pavilion where you can get drinks and food, all the while being entertained by peacocks.
A pretty fine day, but tiring nevertheless …we had dinner chez nous and enjoyed a few cups of wine before calling it a night.
Wow, it is just ridiculously pretty there isn’t it? That first Chateau today was like a postcard by the river there.
…it is really that pretty, we are enjoying it…