Montferrand Castle: A Twelfth-Century Fortified Castle in France
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- France
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Duchy of Aquitaine
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page4 sections
History
Foundation and Medieval Development
Montferrand Castle is a twelfth-century fortified castle in France, located in the commune of Montferrand-du-Périgord in the Dordogne department. At the end of the twelfth century, the Biron family settled at Montferrand after relinquishing its ancestral castle to their descendants, the Gontaut-Biron family. They transformed their residence into a castle, establishing the site’s medieval fortified character.
The castle stood where several important roads met, while the Couze River supported mills and forges. These conditions encouraged settlement and commerce around Montferrand and helped shape the historical importance of the site.
Heritage Protection
On 29 November 2013, the entire château was entered on the French register of historic monuments. In France, this inscription is a formal heritage designation that recognizes and protects property of historical or architectural interest. The protection covers the castle buildings, surviving remains, ground, and fortified enclosure. It replaced an earlier inscription dated 13 January 1948, which was repealed.
Remains
Montferrand Castle survives as a fortified ensemble dating from the twelfth century. Its physical remains comprise the castle buildings, the surviving elements of the site, the surrounding ground, and the fortified enclosure. Together, these components preserve the form of a residence designed with defensive features and enclosed by fortifications.
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