🏰 Medieval Rivals! MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN FRANCE – Beynac-et-Cazenac & Castelnaud-la-Chapelle 🇫🇷

🥰Bonjour! Hello! I hope you enjoy this video of our visit to Dordogne.
🚗💕We drove in the fall season and stopped by two beautiful villages. We had a lovely walk here…such charming medieval villages where you can hear the birds singing and the leaves rustling in this beautiful fall season. Dordogne has one of the best natural settings in France! 💚
🏰Beynac-et-Cazenac and Castelnaud-la-Chapelle have two of the best castles in the Périgord Noir region. Please watch the video for a little bit of history about these two rival castles – Château de Beynac and Château de Castelnaud. I hope to come back there so I can actually see them inside! I love knowing about the history and fun facts about interesting places. How about you?
The two villages are in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
💟In case you enjoyed this video, please like and subscribe! Also, share your thoughts in the comments section! Thank you so much for watching…keep in touch! ❤️🏰🇫🇷

SOME USEFUL LINKS:
⚜️Beynac-et-Cazenac
🌐https://www.beynac-et-cazenac.fr/ | https://chateau-beynac.com/
🗺:https://maps.app.goo.gl/v1xFJF5TkgNsR7F88

⚜️Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
🌐https://castelnaud.com/
🗺:https://maps.app.goo.gl/qbxoxTA6QVUQX1zw7

⚜️The Most Beautiful Villages in France/Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
🌐https://www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org/fr/

🎶 Where I get my royalty free music for this video:
https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/v650ok

🎥 Shot on iPhone 📽

🔔Subscribe to get updated about my new vlogs.🔔
https://www.youtube.com/@carmelaviajera

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Hello friends! I hope life has been good to you. How’s everything going? It’s been forever since my last vlog, I know. But thank you for joining me once again And in case you are new here, welcome and please don’t forget to like and subscribe! In this video, we continue driving in Dordogne also known as the Perigord region in the south west of France. It’s the end of October – a magical time of year, where the landscape transforms into a canvas of warm autumn hues making it more captivating. Today we are so lucky to be passing through not one but two of the most famous castles in the area and they so happened to be in the most beautiful villages too! So here we are on our first stop: Okay guys so we have another stopover here at Beynac-et-Cazenac and this will be a quick one. So I just wanted to stop by and have a closer look at this fairy tale spot. I just wanna be a villager and you know, have this perfect coffee spot it’s just so cute in here. The road gets steeper now. And up ahead, let’s stop and rest in a tiny square that was once a key medieval gathering spot in the village. The name of the square translates to “crossing”. and you will find a cross pattée in stone which came from the cemetery of Cazenac. We can soak in the view of the river and observe the stone houses and rooftops. And from here, we can catch glimpses of the 15th century Château de Fayrac. This served as an outpost for Castelnaud to monitor its rival Beynac. So Beynac and Castelnaud are very close to each other —only about 2 km apart, directly across the Dordogne River. -only about 2 km apart, directly across the Dordogne River. Now let’s have a look at the largest house in this village. It’s a historical residence built in 1607 with 18th-century terraced gardens offering stunning views and if you look at the far end of the property, there is an infinity pool. You can book the whole place for about 17 people And I wish I could stay here. It’s so nice! So here in this beautiful crossroad we find a national heritage site or monument historique. The Beynac Convent Tower is right next to the remains of an ancient Augustinian abbey. The monks must have it for prayer and contemplation. This was where the knights would stay so it’s also known as the Knight’s Tower. Overtime, it became a stronghold for monitoring the valley below and defending against attacks. Now we’re walking in this romantic cobblestone path leading us to another historical monument. Finally, we are at the gates of the Chateau de Beynac! High above the Dordogne River, standing as a silent sentinel over the valley, the 12th century Château de Beynac is a mighty fortress that once controlled trade, wealth and war. Since I was curious about its rise to power, I learned that it all starts with location. The Lords of Beynac built their castle in the perfect spot high above the river, where they could watch over merchants and travelers. In the 12th century, the Beynac family made sure they controlled trade on the river. They charged tolls on goods like salt, wine, and timber making a fortune in the process. The lords also taxed local farmers and formed deals with powerful allies, making sure their influence kept growing. But money alone wasn’t enough. During the Hundred Years’ War, they sided with the French king and in return, they gained royal support and stayed in power. Of course, every castle had an enemy. Just across the river, the English controlled Château de Castelnaud. For years, the two castles faced each other, each trying to gain the upper hand. The Hundred Years’ War ended in 1453 with the victory of France over England. Now it’s time for a sneak peak inside these ancient walls… The Guard Room was added to the keep in the 12th century and served as the entry point for the lord and his armed men. The State Room of Perigord was the gathering place of the four great baronies of the region. Imagine the candlelight flickering as barons and warriors planned their next move against the English forces just across the river. And then we come to this private chapel where the lords of Beynac sought divine favour, surrounded by 15th century medieval frescoes. And here in the spur terrace is where we find the most breathtaking views of the valley. These kitchens were added in the 13th century and and I can imagine the fires burning with the scent of roasted meat in the air. And of course, every castle needs this rather amusing medieval toilet… From war to refinement— Beynac was not only a fortress but also a home. Perhaps the most famous figure associated with Beynac Castle is the legendary king of England Richard the Lionheart who spent time in the castle as part of his vast inheritance from his french mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. But as gunpowder replaced swords, and kings gave way to republics, Beynac’s purpose faded. By the 17th century, its halls were empty. The French Revolution sealed its fate— looted, abandoned, and left to decay. Then, in the 1960s, a man named Lucien Grosso saw hope in the ruins. He bought the castle and began a decades-long restoration, reviving it stone by stone. So now we’re gonna have to leave the village But wow, it’s just so lovely in here. Have you ever seen the movie Chocolat? Apparently some scenes were shot right here. But I just don’t know where exactly. You know, I’m just amazed at the thought that Beynac castle’s been standing here for over 900 years. And even though the wars are long gone This place still ends up being the ultimate battleground. It was used in the movies The Messenger: Joan of Arc and The Last Duel. Both are based on true medieval stories set in France. And yep! I’m a hundred percent watching them as soon as I get home. Let’s just call it historical research… As we drove, another imposing castle caught our eye. It’s rich history with Beynac was irresistible. So we pulled over for a closer look. Just like Beynac et Cazenac, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle is also on the list of “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France” (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) It’s name means “new castle” in latin With “la chapelle” hinting at an old chapel for Saint Michael. It was traditionally a farming and fishing village that grew around a 12th century fortress. Once upon a hillside, two rival castles watched each other across the river. This one, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle was built to counter its rival Beynac. The castle frequently changed hands between the English and the French. Caught in the tug of war between the two kingdoms. It was ultimately recaptured by the French, Likely around the mid-to-late 15th century as the conflict drew to a close. Nowadays, it’s peaceful location where the Céou River meets the Dordogne, Is a favourite spot for artists and photographers especially during golden hour. The castle may have gone quiet, but its military legacy lived on. Today it houses the Museum of Medieval Warfare. The fortress is packed with real medieval war machines. They have full-sized trebuchets, ballistae, and catapults. On special days, you can catch a live demo and see a rock get hurled down a hill like it’s 1350 all over again. If not you can book their ‘Assaulting the Castle’ tour and see a mini-trebuchet being fired! Depending on the season, they have medieval shows, blacksmiths and a knights school. My inner child tells me I absolutely have to come back here! It was so tempting to go inside the castle… but we’re saving that for next time! And so my dear travellers, I hope you enjoyed our drive in the Perigord region and if you did, share your thoughts, like, and subscribe. Thank you so much for watching. Merci beaucoup! And until our next adventure… Bye!