An hour’s drive from the Repaire, Beynac-et-Cazenac is one of those villages that justifies a whole day on its own. Officially one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”, it stretches along the cliff above the Dordogne, crowned by its medieval castle — one of the best preserved in the Périgord.
Built in the 12th century, Beynac long stood as France’s bastion against Castelnaud, its English rival, which faces it in a mirror image on the opposite bank — a sublime view from the ramparts walk.
Inside the castle: the great ceremonial hall, the vaulted kitchens, the chapel, and above all the ramparts, with one of the finest panoramas in the region — the meandering Dordogne, the gardens of Marqueyssac to the right, Castelnaud to the left.
More reasons to go:
- The village’s cobbled lanes (explore on foot — cars are banned)
- The viewpoint by the calvary, just above the castle
- Lunch at the Jardins de Marqueyssac (10 minutes by car), with its 150,000 hand-clipped box trees
When to go: shoulder season (May, June, September). Avoid the middle of the day in July and August. Sunset from the viewpoint is unbeatable.
