Château de Bridoire, or how to spend a wonderful day in the Dordogne

In the mind of the tourist, the **Dordogne **is above all synonymous with the Black Périgord and rambling through the Five Castles Valley, evenings in Sarlat and river descents by canoe. The department is however large, and hides sometimes unexpected treasures.

This is certainly the case of Château de Bridoire, situated further west, 12 km south of charming Bergerac and which promises families an exceptional day, of adventures, of games and of course, of delving into History. Follow the guide, to learn everything about this exceptional place!

Bridoire’s History, a Residence with a Thousand Owners

If oppidum is a notion that rings a vague bell for you, know that this type of Roman construction is at the origin of many medieval wonders in our country. It is a fortified village, in short, whose location leaves nothing to chance from a military standpoint and was naturally chosen to later build more developed fortresses.

This is the case here, and the construction of the château de Bridoire, in all its components, spread from the 12th to the 19th century. Buridorium is the first name we know it by, when it appears in the cartulary of Cadouin Abbey, in 1150. It belongs at that time to Bertrand de Bridoire.

Having become a co-lordship towards the end of the 13th century, held by the Maureilhac and Aubeterre families, the castle becomes a hideout for pillagers during the Hundred Years’ War. The 15th and 16th centuries see it pass between the hands of several families, before Bridoire is totally destroyed in 1568, after falling into the hands of Protestants eight years earlier. Rebuilt under the aegis of Henry IV, it is again dismantled in 1649 on the order of the Duke d’Epernon, and restored once more thereafter.

Château de Bridoire

Bridoire’s destiny continues to keep it in uncertainty during the following centuries, where it changes hands on many occasions, sees its lands be divided between several families, finally sold to a Swiss industrialist, in 1939. He lives in it until 1978, before donating it to the commune which refuses it, frightened by the costs of maintenance and restoration. It is a Senegalese company that becomes the purchaser, headed by Boissier-Palun, Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, consultant to UNESCO, minister and ambassador of Senegal, and personal lawyer to the Ivorian President and the Central African Emperor, Jean-Bedel Bokassa.

The castle is then left abandoned, and Bridoire suffers over time from pillaging as private cars pass through. Pianos, marquetry, paintings and tapestries disappear without anyone caring. The owner does not react to the warnings from the police, who cannot intervene concretely without his authorisation.

In 1989, the mayor of the commune, on the advice of the police, creates the “Association for the Safeguarding of Château de Bridoire”, which obtains its listing on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments in 1991. Twenty more years will be needed, between inconclusive actions at the highest level of the State, various actions by the association and demonstrations from the local population, for after administrative expropriation, Château de Bridoire to finally be entrusted to the couple Michel and Catherine Guyot, on 13 July 2011.

Its opening to the public in 2012 is a success, and nearly 40,000 visitors walk the estate. Year by year, the animations and progressive restoration enrich the castle’s appeal, making it the tourist jewel we know today - alongside impressive cultural and architectural restoration.

The Domain’s Architecture

Château de Bridoire is the only medieval fortress still standing in the Bergeracois, whose domain extends over 40 hectares. Built on a rocky spur whose cliffs protected all sides except the east, it is defended in this direction by a wide circular ditch separating the domain from the plateau, whose only access was a drawbridge, replaced in the 16th century by a stone arch.

An inner courtyard, surrounded by a wall bearing a rampart walk, constitutes the neuralgic centre of circulation between the various residential buildings, stables and outbuildings. Four round towers with machicolations mark the extremities of the two main buildings, each equipped with a stair turret. A final, square tower extends the outbuildings to the south and closes the courtyard. The interior of the buildings is now progressively restored, furnished and redecorated to do honour to its history.

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Bridoire’s specificity is to have residences juxtaposed with fancifulness, without an overall plan, because of its eventful history. For instance, a chapel was rebuilt in the 19th century within a 15th-century tower overlooking a Renaissance-style residence.

It is the Marquis de Foucauld who gives Bridoire its current look by carrying out significant works: ornate dormer windows, terrace and winter garden, interior balcony of his bedroom overlooking the chapel, reception rooms, stables, etc. A residence then become worthy of a King, where Henri de Navarre, future Henry IV has, for the small history, had the pleasure of lunching!

Your Stay at the Castle of 100 Games

As we mentioned in the introduction, Château de Bridoire is conducive to providing a day rich in interests, for the whole family. It is moreover to date the most animated historic site in the Bergeracois with its 15 furnished rooms on 3 levels, its stables and the multiple games and animations on offer.

Some Culture!

The castle is accessible for self-guided visits. Entering the courtyard of the castle, the majesty of the facades first delights the visitor. But it is by passing through one or other access door that the plunge into History truly begins.

Large kitchens, dining room, winter garden, billiard room, grand drawing room, gaming room, scriptorium, chapel, stables, cellar and dungeon constitute as many rooms admirably reconstituted with period furniture and decorations.

Some Adventure!

The little ones as well as the grown-ups can then set off on adventure in the labyrinth and its Mysterious Valley, to solve its enigmas by traversing caves, rivers and romantic ruins. A play trail across several hectares, which will take about two hours to complete!

Some Thrills!

The Haunted Nights, which take place on summer Tuesdays and Wednesdays, set off to meet the ghosts, to understand which curse has taken hold of the castle and above all, to attempt to escape alive…

Multiple Games

Finally, don’t miss testing your skill thanks to the 100 old-fashioned games offered to you, accessible free of charge with the castle entry ticket. For all ages, indoors as well as outdoors, try your hand at trying on armour, calligraphy, archery and crossbow shooting, grass skiing, board games and skill games, etc. The shadow theatre, giant chessboard, giant game of the goose or indeed reflection games will certainly arouse your curiosity and playful sense, also.

Château de Bridoire is certainly experiencing the happiest period of its history, as visitors are so happy to admire it, to move about within its multiple animations, to dine there and even to sleep there now. A flat has indeed been specially fitted out in 2021 in one of the towers. Dare you spend the night there?