Château de Beynac, France

The Château de Beynac is an impressive medieval castle located on a cliff above the Dordogne river in the commune of Beynac-et-Cazenac in the Dordogne département of France. The Château de Beynac was originally built around 1115 as a fortress. In 1184 Château de Beynac was captured by Richard the Lionheart who handed over to Mercadier.



During the Albigensian Crusade or Cathar Crusade (1209–1229) the Château de Beynac was captured and partly destroyed by Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester. The castle was later rebuilt by the lords of Beynac and played an important role during the Hundred Years' War (from 1337 to 1453) when the Dordogne was the frontier between France and England. In the 20th century the castle went through restoration works and is today in private possession but it is open to the visitors.