In 1137, Eleonor of Aquitaine married
Louis, the son of the king of France who later became Louis VII. The
marriage ended in divorce after 15 years and, two months later,
Eleonor remarried. Her second husband, Henry Plantagenet subsequently
became King of England and the struggle to dominate the region began,
resulting in the construction of a number of fortified towns. To
attract inhabitants, the kings guaranteed them social, political and
economic stability. Most are found in the Purple Périgord
region around Bergerac, although Domme is in Black
Périgord.
Although their economic function was important, the fortified towns
were more generally used as military strongholds to defend the
valleys during the feuds between Capetiens and Plantagenets.
The towns were built with straight, narrow streets and identical
houses and were surrounded by an outer wall with numerous gates. In
the centre was a square with shops under arcades and a covered
market-place where council members met. Nearby would be the church,
which played a major part in defence, a plain building without the
decorations of Roman architecture. Monpazier is a perfect example of
this town plan (400m x 220m).
This English walled town was built by Lucas de Thaney, Senechal of Guyenne for Edward I of England in 1272. The ramparts and the Luziers Gate are still standing, as well as the remarkable fortified church with two castellated towers.
Cradled in the meanders of the Dropt, this fortified town was founded in 1270 by Alphonse de Poitiers, Count of Toulouse for his brother, the French King Saint Louis but was built in its present form under English domination. The square with its arcades and the houses with their wooden beams and frames are still visible.
Remarkably situated on a steep promontory, the royal bastide of Domme is one of the most well-known. It was founded in 1280 and is one of the few not to have the typical plan of most walled towns because of the physical features of the site. Domme is also famous for its caves full of stalactites.
This was the first English fortified town founded in 1267 by the Plantagenet king, Henry III, who granted it certain privileges in a "Solemn Charter". The characteristic town plan has been preserved as well as the Roman or Bergerac Gate, a stone cross of 1351, the Governor's House, the Consul House and part of the fortifications.
This was a later bastide, founded in
1284, by Jean de Grailly, Senechal of Aquitaine by order of Edward I
of England. A large church in the Gothic Plantagenet style dominates
the village. A mediaeval - style house "the Porch" is still visible,
as well as the remains of the battlements and the keep of a fortified
castle built in 1318.
"La Maison de la Noix" houses a permanent exhibition on the walnut,
including the uses of both the nuts and the wood.
Founded in 1284 by Edward I of England, the town was invaded several times, both by the English and the French. The rectangular town plan around a central square with galeries and part of the fortifications are still standing. The town is classed as a "Grand Site National".
Founded by Alphonse de Poitiers on the banks of the Dordogne, the town has a covered central square, hall, Gothic church, half-timbered houses, narrow pedestrian streets and remains of the ramparts.
This English fortified town was founded by Edward I on the site of a Gallo-Roman villa and Benedictine priory.
Founded in 1261 by Alphonse de Poitiers overlooking the valley of the Lémance, the main street, covered market and vaulted houses still remain.
Canadian visitors will no doubt wish to visit Montréal Castle and the Chapel of the Holy Thorn near Issac. Claude de Pontbriand accompanied Jacques Cartier on his second trip to Canada and gave the name of his castle to the town built on the Saint Lawrence.
A brochure called "A ride through the
walled towns of Southern Périgord and Northern Agenais" is
available in English and French from the:
Bergerac Region Tourist Development Centre,
16 Boulevard Maine de Biran,
24100 Bergerac.
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