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France travel > Dordogne > Castles

The Dordogne is said to have 1001 castles. Many of these are not open to the public, however, and also the name 'chateau' can be applied to any house that has been a centre of wine production - so many places that are called 'chateaux' will be distinctly less imposing than others.

Actually I have cheated a bit, because some of these castles are across the southern border of the Dordogne region and are actually in the Lot-et-Garonne region. All are easily visited on a visit to the Dordogne region however.

Be that as it may, the Dordogne region has many of the finest castles in France, often in spectacular locations, and frequently surrounded by carefully manicured gardens with far-reaching views over the Perigord countryside.

Many of the castles date from the turbulent times in the 12th-14th centuries and the wars between England and France (see Hundred Years War) and typically (by contrast with the Loire Valley castles) are still in their medieval condition.

We now also have a section dedicated to France castles where you can learn more