Travel back in time, exploring marvellous historic monuments in both the Charentes and Dordogne areas. Here, we focus on nine châteaux to discover along La Flow Vélo cycle route.
Château de Crazannes (Charente-Maritime)
Nicknamed the Château du Chat Botté (Puss in Boots’s Castle), the Château de Crazannes, close to the town of Saintes, is a listed historic monument. Built in the 14th century, it includes vestiges of one of the oldest châteaux in Charente-Maritime, as it was constructed on the foundations of an older medieval fortress of which Saint-Saturnin de Crazannes chapel, the keep and the dry moats survive. The place nestles in eight hectares of grounds. The castle’s nickname, the Château du Chat Botté, derives from Jules Gouffier, Comte de Caravaz, one-time proprietor of the castle, and a figure said to have inspired Charles Perrault, author of so many famed versions of well-known fairy tales, to create the character of the Marquis de Carabas, Master of Puss in Boots in his iconic tale. Nowadays, you can visit the château on request… and you can even book accommodation here!
Practical information
Le château de La Roche Courbon (Charente-Maritime)
Le château de La Roche-Courbon, en Charente-Maritime, est un joyau historique niché entre forêt et marais. Construit au XVe siècle puis transformé au XVIIe, il offre une élégante façade classique. Surnommé "le château de la Belle au bois dormant", il séduit par ses jardins à la française, son miroir d’eau et ses grottes préhistoriques. Pour les enfants, de nombreuses animations sont proposées : parcours-jeux avec Eutrope la grenouille, jeu de piste interactif "L'aventure coccinelle", escape games historiques, jeux anciens en bois, et le parcours Préhistozen sur la Préhistoire. Des ateliers et animations spécifiques sont également organisés pendant les vacances scolaires.
Infos pratiques
Le Château de Panloy (Charente-Maritime)
Entre Saintes et Rochefort, le Château de Panloy est situé en bord de Charente à Port d'Envaux. Inscrit aux Monuments Historiques, ce château daté du XVIIème siècle a su conserver son style d’antan, avec son mobilier et de nombreux objets d’époque. Ses salons, chambre, galeries, combles… et ses vestiges de la vie d’autrefois (cafetière de 1840, des tapisseries du 18ème siècle) se découvrent au détour de visites, organisées quotidiennement. Dans les jardins, les bois et le long des canaux, petits et grands peuvent en apprendre davantage autour du château. Les plus petits s’engageront dans une grande chasse aux trésors à la recherche des carottes perdues par Anatole, l’âne du château. Dans le parc de Panloy, espace naturel préservé de 7 hectares, un grand parcours jeu permet de déambuler dans les allées et les bois du domaine. Pour les plus grands, un grand quizz leur permettra peut-être de gagner une croisière sur la Charente.
Infos pratiques
Château d'Hautefort (Dordogne)
Perched on a rocky outcrop looking down on the eponymous village below, the Château de Hautefort’s roots go back to a medieval fortress erected here in the 12th century. Transformed in the Ancien Régime, its imposing forms recall archetypal Loire Valley châteaux. With this architectural gem, the site combines a majestic building in classic French style with a beautiful natural setting. Admire the remarkable collection of 17th- and 18th-century furniture preserved inside. It was in the 19th century that a formal French-style garden and more informal English grounds were added. This place is a must-see along the cycle route, as much for its interiors as its exteriors, the former including an imposing chamber with grand fireplaces, 18th-century apartments, and even a cinema! In summer, cultural events are put on for visitors.
Practical information
- Opening times / Prices
- Address: Le Bourg d'Hautefort, 24390 Hautefort
- French landline tel: +33 (0)5 53 50 51 23
Château de Vaucocourt in Thiviers (Dordogne)
Château de Vaucocourt in Thiviers (Dordogne)
Built in the 12th century, this château is located a little east of Thiviers. What with its ramparts and its circular towers, the Château de Vaucocourt has preserved its grandeur. Today, it’s a private dwelling, not open to visitors, but it’s still a joy to contemplate its silhouette on the horizon.
Practical information
- Address: 10 Rue Notre Dame, 24800 Thiviers
Château de la Marthonie in Saint Jean de Côle (Dordogne)
First, the history! Located under one kilometre from a section of greenway, the Château de la Marthonie was originally built in the 12th century. However, during the Hundred Years War, it was largely destroyed. The château you see today dates mostly from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. The 17th-century monumental staircase has kept its grandeur and leads, notably, to the grand drawing room, recently restored. The lower chambers are also very well preserved. The château is in private hands. The local tourist office, though, does propose tours in the summer period, or year-round for groups, by prior arrangement. Some parts of the castle are difficult to access for people with reduced mobility. As to the village in which this château stands, it definitely deserves a visit too, having been admitted to the association of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.
Practical information
- Address: 1 Le Bourg, 24800 Saint-Jean-de-Côle
Château de Varaignes (Dordogne)
The Château de Varaignes is a beautiful 14th-century building, and a French listed monument. It boasts a medieval square keep, a hexagonal tower and an inner courtyard of Italian Renaissance inspiration, all showing well how local architecture changed through time. Today, the château is home to a lively tourist site, notably with its weavers’ museum-cum-workshop, the Atelier-Musée des Tisserands et de la Charentaise – the Charentaise being the nickname for the much-loved traditional felt slippers, or pantoufles, produced in the region. This écomusée, though, covers the history of weaving and textile-production more generally in the Périgord-Limousin area.
Practical information
- Address: Rue du Château, 24360 Varaignes
Château de Peyraux (Dordogne)
The Château de Peyraux, first mentioned back in 1328, occupies a magnificent site in the Dordogne. Its outbuildings reflect the strategy behind its construction. The southern entrance is protected by a rectangular châtelet, or defensive gateway, emphasizing the place’s military character. Built in part over vaulted cellars, the outbuildings also served as defensive rooms. A round tower links these buildings to the western rampart, imparting a feeling of solidity. An engraving of 1688 on a stable door recalls an important period in its history. Today, this château continues to delight visitors, immersing them in a past full of adventures and mysteries. A 14th-century construction, the Château de Peyraux has been registered on the list of French historic monuments since 1948. Located under 700m north of the village of Le Lardin-Saint-Lazare, its gardens are free to visit and offer a lovely walk in the countryside.
Practical information
Château d'Excideuil (Dordogne)
Associated with love and war, the Château d’Excideuil is an historic castle with two deeply contrasting sides. It has lain at the centre of tragic times, notably during two (unsuccessful) sieges by Richard Cœur de Lion, but also known marvellous highpoints, for example when the great troubadour poet, Giraut de Bornelh, performed here. This architectural gem has some unique features. The 11th-century fortress at its core boasts the only square double-keep in the Périgord. You can visit one part of the château, wandering along the ramparts and around the courtyard. In summer, the rooms in the gatehouse are used for exhibitions of painting, photography and sculpture.
Practical information
- Address: Château d'Excideuil, 24160 Excideuil
