Beaumont-du-Perigord travel guide
Visit Beaumont-du-Perigord (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France)
Photo Gallery Book a visitBeaumont-du-Perigord is a town situated in the southern part of the Dordogne department. It is an English bastide town founded in 1272 by Edward I of England. In common with the usual plan for bastide towns it was built following a formal grid pattern, although in Beaumont this layout is less evident than in some of the other bastide towns in the region.
Exploring Beaumont-du-Perigord
France This Way review: the only downside of a visit to Beaumont is that, unlike most of the bastide towns in the region, there is a 'through road' that passes through the centre of the town and across one side of the main square. This does make the town slightly less 'authentic' than if you had to park outside the town and wander up a quiet street to reach the centre, as is more often the case.
A visit to Beaumont centres around the main square in the centre of the town, the adjacent church and the streets around the square. This main square is still partially surrounded by the original medieval buildings above stone arcaded passages, and also has a couple of cafes.
The church on the corner of the square in Beaumont-du-Perigord was built at the end of the 13th century (and much modified in the 19th century) and is a large building that dominates the skyline of the town. As usual for a bastide town it originally formed an important part of the towns medieval defensive strategy.
Exploring the surrounding streets you will see various examples of houses dating from the middle ages in Beaumont-du-Perigord, including Maison Chambard, a substantial town house with 15th century dormer windows and a 13th century facade onto the street.
Part of the original medieval Maison de Monsec can be seen and a remnant of a 13th century prison wall while the Maison Lafitte is an unusual timbered house with the cross of St Andrew set between its windows.
The town's Maison de Retraite (retirement home) was originally a convent built in about 1700 - an elegant building, with identical windows each topped by a shell design, being the sign of the pilgrim route to Compostella.
On the quiet road that runs parallel to the main street there are several interesting art shops and galleries - take a look at the impressive wood-turnings and photos in the little gallery of art among others.
On the edges of Beaumont-du-Perigord you can see the Tour de Bannes which is part of the original defences of the town, and you can walk round the old ramparts to see the Porte de Luzier and tower. The houses along Rue Feliciane are built into the original ramparts.
Attractions nearby
Venture a few kilometres south of town to admire the lovely (privately owned, no public admission) Chateau de Bannes, a delightful chateau which looks like something straight from a fairy tale.
Close to Beaumont-du-Perigord there are several other attractive bastide towns each with their own particular highlights including Monpazier, Monflanquin and Villereal. Other local highlights include the quiet villages of Molieres and Montferrand and the abbeys at Cadouin and Saint-Avit-Senieur.
Explore elsewhere in the Perigord Pourpre. You can find more travel ideas in the Dordogne guide and the Aquitaine guide.
Photos of Beaumont-du-Perigord
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Map of Beaumont-du-Perigord and places nearby
Visit near Beaumont-du-Perigord with France This Way reviews
Saint-Avit-Senieur
Saint-Avit-Senieur is dominated by the substantial abbey ruins in the centre of the village
Saint-Avit-Senieur guide
Molieres
Molieres is small but perhaps the best example of an unspoiled bastide town in the region.
Molieres guide
Montferrand-du-Perigord
The pretty little village of Montferrand-du-Perigord is in a particularly scenic area and has a traditional market hall
Montferrand-du-Perigord guide
Chateau de Lanquais
The Chateau de Lanquais - sometimes called the Louvre of the Perigord - combines medieval and renaissance architecture
Chateau de Lanquais guide
Cadouin
Cadouin is a small village best known for its medieval abbey, an important pilgrimage destination
Cadouin guide
... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Dordogne
Address: Beaumont-du-Périgord, Bergerac, Aquitaine, 24440, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.77, longitude 0.768
Plan your visit to Beaumont-du-Perigord, Dordogne
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Saint-Avit Eglise (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (4 km)
- Eglise Sainte-Croix (Beaumont-du-Perigord): religious monument (6 km)
- Le-Buisson-de-Cadouin eglise abbatiale (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (10 km)
- Eglise de Saint-Hilaire et Eglise de Saint-Nicholas (Tremolat): religious monument (13 km)
- Jardin de Planbuisson: remarkable garden (14 km)
- Monpazier: secteur sauvegarde (14 km)
- Jardins de la Bourlie: remarkable garden (15 km)
- Limeuil: most beautiful village (16 km)
- Abbaye de Saint Martial (Paunat): religious monument (17 km)
- Eglise Notre Dame de l'Assomption (Belves): religious monument (19 km)
- Belves: most beautiful village (19 km)
- Eglise de saint-Pierre (Audrix): religious monument (19 km)
The French version of this page is at Beaumont-du-Perigord (Francais)