Nouvelle-Aquitaine · Dordogne, France

Château de Castelnaud

Beynac's great rival across the Dordogne, held for long stretches by the English during the Hundred Years' War. Today it houses the Museum of Medieval Warfare, complete with full-scale reconstructed siege engines — its trebuchets are among the best-known in Europe.

At a glance

Built: 12th–13th centuries
Style: Medieval fortress
Commissioned by: Lords of Castelnaud
Signature feature: Full-scale trebuchets and the Museum of Medieval Warfare
Hundred Years' War: Changed hands repeatedly; frequently the English counterpart to French Beynac
Setting: Above the confluence of the Dordogne and the Céou
Ownership: Privately owned; restored since the 1960s
Visiting: Open to visitors year-round