Castelnaud-la-Chapelle travel guide
Visit Castelnaud-la-Chapelle (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France)
Photo Gallery Book a visitCastelnaud-la-Chapelle is a village in the Dordogne department of south-west France. It is classified as one of the 'most beautiful villages of France' and is home to the magnificent Chateau de Castelnaud.
Explore Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
As you approach Castelnaud-la-Chapelle you will see the castle towering up from the hillside above the river Dordogne. It is a magnificent sight. Indeed this stretch of the Dordogne is fabulous as along the river are a good number of medieval chateaux and picturesque villages.
On arriving at Castelnaud you can park the car in the car-park at the bottom of the river. This is a pleasant spot with a restaurant and a canoe hire company and you can see the village looming above you. If walking is a problem you can drive straight up to the castle at the top of the village.
The road through the village is steep with cobbled paths leading you through arches and down side-streets. Round every corner are more lovely stone houses with steep, perigordine roofs and wooden shutters.
Because there are so few cars in the village you can almost get the feeling that you have stepped back through time and landed in the middle-ages. Lovely architectural details like stone arches, half-timber houses and stone towers mean there is plenty to admire.
There is a cafe in the centre of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle and so you can stop and rest and soak up the atmosphere.
All around there are incredible views; in one direction the Dordogne river with a view over the Chateau de Beynac on the other side of the river. In the other direction the wide open Ceao valley, home to a quieter more hidden view of the Dordogne than the one you are likely to experience along the Dordogne valley.
Of course the main reason most people come to the village is to visit the magnificent Chateau de Castelnaud. A huge medieval castle built for warfare and inside is an excellent museum of military weapons including some full scale reproductions of the larger weapons used in medieval warfare.
During the summer there are demonstrations of the forge and some of the weapons and on summer evenings the castle is open from 8.15pm for visits with guides dressed in medieval costumes (not weekends).
There is also a museum in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, the Ecomusée de la Noix, dedicated to explaining the growing of walnuts and how they are used to pepare oil, with a mill used for demonstrations and a chance to taste and buy the oil.
Places to visit nearby
You will find two different canoe hire companies operating near Castelnaud-la-Chapelle where you can hire a canoe to explore the river Dordogne.
Very close to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle there are several 'most beautiful villages' such as Domme, Beynac and La Roque-Gageac. For castle enthusiasts the Chateau de Beynac is another excellent castle well worth a visit.
The neighbouring Chateau des Milandes is a charming castle built by the lords of Castelnaud for living in rather than for warfare. It was once the home of Jaqueline Baker and there is an interesting exhibition dedicated to her in the castle.
You can find more travel ideas in the Dordogne guide and the Aquitaine guide.
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Map of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle and places nearby
Visit near Castelnaud-la-Chapelle with France This Way reviews
Chateau de Castelnaud
The extensive Chateau de Castelnaud and the associated Museum of Medieval Weapons are very popular with both adults nd children
Chateau de Castelnaud guide
Jardins de Marqueyssac
The beautiful gardens of Marqueyssac are the most visited gardens in Aquitaine
Jardins de Marqueyssac guide
Beynac
One of the most beautiful villages in France and also with stunning views and on of the most impressive Dordogne castles, Beynac is unmissable when you visit
Beynac guide
Chateau de Beynac
High on a clifftop and beautifully restored, the Chateau de Beynac is our favourite castle in the region
Chateau de Beynac guide
La Roque-Gageac
The picture-postcard village of La Roque-Gageac is along the banks of the Dordogne river and also has semi-tropical gardens and ancient cave dwellings to see.
La Roque-Gageac guide
Chateau des Milandes
The beautifully restored Chateau des Milandes, in Renaissance style, is best known for its association with the jazz dancer called Josephine Baker
Chateau des Milandes guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Dordogne
Address: Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Domme, Sarlat-la-Canéda, Aquitaine, 24250, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.8158, longitude 1.1494
Plan your visit to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Dordogne
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Jardins de Marqueyssac: remarkable garden
- Beynac: most beautiful village (3 km)
- La Roque-Gageac: most beautiful village (3 km)
- Jardins de l'Albarède: remarkable garden (3 km)
- Eglise notre-Dame de Nativité (Cenac-et-Saint-Julien): religious monument (5 km)
- Jardins du château de Caudon: remarkable garden (5 km)
- Domme: most beautiful village (5 km)
- Jardin de Conty: remarkable garden (8 km)
- Cathédrale Saint-Sardos (Sarlat): religious monument (10 km)
- Sarlat: town of art and history (10 km)
- Belves: most beautiful village (12 km)
- Eglise Notre Dame de l'Assomption (Belves): religious monument (12 km)
The French version of this page is at Castelnaud-la-Chapelle (Francais)