You are here: Visit France > Regions of France> Aquitaine > Dordogne > Monpazier

Monpazier

Hotels

Monpazier Car Hire

Monpazier Hotels

 

(or enter new destination)

Check-in date

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Check-out date

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Search

Best Price Guaranteed
Reserve online, pay at the hotel.

Visit Monpazier

Monpazier ('most beautiful villages of France') is 15 kilometres south of Domme towards the southern edge of the Dordogne region.

The origins of Monpazier date from the 13th century - it was founded in 1284 by King Edward I of England. Monpazier is a remarkable town. Around its paved central square, containing the original market hall, it retains many ancient buildings and the original arcades around the edge of the square. Monpazier is usually considered to be the most intact bastide town remaining in France.

There is perhaps little to actually say about the town - there are no particular individual highlights, although the church is attractive, and the ancient market hall is also interesting - note the old 'tin buckets' in the hall, which are said to be the original 'weighing station' for oils and wheat etc. The arcades around the edge of the square (the sheltered pathways under the arches) are also a highlight.

The lack of individual monuments is not a criticism or a reason not to visit - more than 30 of the buildings in Monpazier are classified as 'national monuments', and there is little to spoil the impression that all is much as it has been for the last 700 years. It is one of the few places where you can take loads of photos (and you will) and none show any building less than 400 years old!

The most remarkable feature is that many of the houses in the centre are different to each other in architectural style, but still form a perfect whole.

Be sure to venture a little down the side streets, where houses, and occasional shops and cafes, sit quietly as they have for many centuries.

Be sure to also venture out of the town (only about 100 metres from the centre) to see the views that look south across the woodland and valley.

Monpazier is an unmissable highlight of a visit to the region.

Featured holiday rentals - Farmhouse and cottage, and an apartment near Monpazier

Farmhouse (sleeps 6-8) and ancient cottage (sleeps 2) ideally located near Villereal, close to Monpazier and Monpazier - see Villereal gites

See also this holiday apartment near Monpazier.

Places to visit near Monpazier

The Dordogne area to the north and the Lot et Garonne region to the south both contain a very large number of interesting sights and villages. For somewhere a little off the beaten track, try Beaumont-du-Perigord; Villereal and Issigeac to the west, or Villefranche-du-Perigord to the east.

Monpazier Photos (click any picture to visit)