Chateau Montfort, Castles of France

 

Montfort castle

Chateau Montfort is 4 km west of Carsac-Aillac in the eastern part of the Dordogne.

The chateau de Montfort is placed high on a rocky ledge overhanging the village of Montfort, and the cliffs and broad meander in the Dordogne river below.

Said to be destroyed and rebuilt four times, Chateau Montfort has had a turbulent history, and undergone a great deal of change during its 800 years existence.

The castle is more linked with the cathars than most in the region, and the well known cathar 'leader' Bernard de Casnac lived in the chateau - while there he said he would 'cut into pieces all the catholics in the region' which seems slightly at odds with the peaceful objectives of the cathars!

Such a statement was likely to arouse attention, and the Albigensian crusade under Simon de Montfort captured the castle, removed Casnac, and burned the chateau to the ground. It is curious that it was de Montforts name adopted by the castle that he destroyed!

There is also a legend at the chateau that the daughter of Casnac was burned to death at Montfort, and that her ghost still haunts the chateau.

The eventful history continued through the Hundred Years War in which the castle was greatly damaged and rebuilt on three more occasions.

Note: Chateau de Montfort is not open to the public although there are several good vantage points in the surrounding area.

Map location - Chateau Montfort