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| Nearly one thousand years of history are contained at Château Biron. |
Having an out-of-town guest provides the perfect excuse to get out and revisit nearby sites. So, after searching for historical venues that are open in the off season, we decided to head to Château Biron, a beautiful castle about 45 minutes away.
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| A bridge links the Caretaker's Lodge to the Marshal's Building at Château Biron. |
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| Château Biron offers beautiful views of the Lède Valley. |
Perched above the Lède Valley, the castle was built in 1598 for Charles de Gontaut, duke of Biron. The Gontaut-Biron family were the undisputed masters of the southern Périgord for nearly a thousand years.
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The view from the Cours d'Honneur at Château Biron
changes with the seasons. |
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The two-story Chapel of the Seigneurs at Château Biron
was inspired by la Sainte-Chapelle de Paris. |
French soldier-turned-alleged-traitor, Charles de Gontaut met his end at the guillotine in Paris in 1602. According to Wikipedia, the duke was the inspiration for one of Shakespeare's characters, Berowne in "Love's Labour's Lost." After his death, playwright George Chapman wrote about de Gontaut in "The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron." He also was the subject of the song "La Complainte Du Maréchal Biron" by Garolou, a Canadian folk rock group.
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| The chapel at Château Biron is seen from the Panoramic Terrace. |
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Each century from the 12th to the 18th has left
its mark at Château Biron. |
The castle grounds include a keep and living quarters from the 16th century, a chapel and kitchens, as well as a stable. Visitors can weave in and out among the buildings and visit inside of most of them. Several movies have been shot at Château Biron, and one of the rooms features posters and costumes from these films.
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| Props from one of the movies filmed at Château Biron are on display. |
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| These boots were worn by an actor in a film shot at Château Biron |
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| The parquet floor is a stunning feature of the Château Biron dining room. |
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| Clay pots are displayed in the kitchen at Château Biron. |
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A room at Château Biron contains games, including this giant
chess set, where visitors can pause to play during their visit. |
In addition to the cluster of buildings and additions that span several centuries, Château Biron also houses a contemporary art gallery. The current exhibition, États d'Âmes (States of Souls) is featured through June 6, 2022. The collection includes paintings, photographs, and sculptures acquired over the past decade by the Fonds Départmental d'Art Contemporaine, an organization that supports artists in the area.
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This tapestry by artist Sylvie Weber is part of the
contemporary art exhibition at Château Biron, |
Château Biron is open every day from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2-5:30 p.m. The hours change throughout the year, so check the
website before visiting. Visitors may opt to buy a combined ticket to the castle and to the Cadouin Abbey Cloister, located 25 minutes to the north. The small village of Biron has a restaurant, but it's a better option to have lunch in nearby Monpazier, a
plus beau village de France.
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| The stables at Château Biron contain workshop spaces. |
