Castle of Commarque

The Château of Commarque is a Château French which is located in the Dordogne between Sarlat and Eyzies at the Eyzies-with-Tayac-Sireuil, classified, worth visiting on a rocky outcrop at the bottom of the valley of the Beune.

The castle is located at the end of a small path through wood. It is so difficult access that him the name of " is given; Fortress oubliée" …

History

Based during the 12th century, or front, on the request of the Abbot S of Sarlat, the castle of Commarque, which is not whereas a simple wood tower, must at the origin contain the ambitions of Beynac, their vassal, in the area and ensure the safety of the valley which sees the crossing of two important trade route of the area: the road of Périgueux to Cahors and that of Brive to Bergerac. In XIIe century there exists an agglomeration, a keep with a home, a vault and house-turns: it is the castrum of Commarque.

Gradually, after the family of Beynac went Master of the castle, the tower out of wooden is replaced by a stone keep several times raises, in particular in 1380. Thus, the lords of the place, Beynac, logaient in the keep seigneurial. Several others turns were built, accompanied each time by a home. The house-turns are held by chalk-linings of minor nobility which one knows some names: Commarque, Cendrieux, Gondrix, the Vault… Each house-turn consists of an enclosure, clean accesses and ditches.

During the War One hundred Year old, Beynac remain the faithful defenders of the crown of France. The English capture nevertheless the castle in 1406 and preserve it during a few years. The decline of the family of Beynac goes back to this time. In the years 1500, it seems that the castrum of Commarque is already deserted from the families resident. Later, in 1569, the castrum is again taken during the wars of religion by the catholics. It is undoubtedly at that time that crumbled the arched room.

Guy de Beynac, last lord of the manor of Commarque, dies there in 1656. The site is definitively abandoned with XVIIIe. One century later the castle is in ruin.

In 1968, Hubert de Commarque buys the ruins of his ancestors. The site, at the time, is entirely covered by the vegetation. He undertakes to consolidate the most damaged parts. Since 1994 follow one another of the campaigns of consolidation and restoration. A research program archaeological is in hand for several years.

External bonds

Official site of the castle of Commarque
Richesheures.net, article and photographs on the castle of Commarque
History of the Castle of Commarque

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