Exploring Beynac in the Dordogne

Medieval city

Beynac, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France

Beynac welcomes you to an idyllic setting perfect for getting away from it all and recharging your batteries, nestled between the Dordogne River and a massive rocky promontory. The village offers a setting typical of the medieval towns of the Périgord, with its cobblestone streets, houses built of pale stone, and slate roofs.

The Dordogne is home to dozens of listed villages not far from your Dordogne campground. Nine of these historic medieval towns in the Dordogne department are among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”: Beynac, La Roque-Gageac, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Saint-Amand-de-Coly, Belvès, Domme, Limeuil, Sarlat-à-Canéda, and Monpazier—all must-see destinations when visiting the Dordogne.

Renting a mobile home in the Dordogne is one of the best ways to explore the town. Beynac is beloved for its authentic and timeless charm. As you stroll through its picturesque narrow streets, you can fully experience the medieval atmosphere of this ancient fortified town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The traditional houses with slate roofs remind us of the village’s character, as do its cobblestone squares, its calvary overlooking the Dordogne River, and its former seigneurial chapel—now the Church of Sainte-Marie—making this a village brimming with art and history.

Beynac’s landscape also reminds us of its military past. One of the most beautiful fortified towns in the Périgord Noir, it was long a rival of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, which was often in English hands during the Hundred Years’ War. During those turbulent times, Beynac and its castle stood as a stronghold against England. Visiting Beynac and its former rival from our campground with a pool in the Dordogne—Castelnaud—means reliving more than five centuries of history that have left a lasting mark on an entire region, and indeed an entire kingdom.

One of the most beautiful castles in the Dordogne

Visit the Château de Beynac

Several towns in the Périgord were involved to varying degrees in the conflicts between French and English troops during the Hundred Years’ War. Many villages were fortified at that time. This was true of Sarlat, among others, as well as Castelnaud and Beynac.

Beynac Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in the Dordogne and tells the story of important chapters in French history. In those turbulent times, the neighboring Castelnaud Castle was regularly seized by English troops. Beynac Castle, meanwhile, served as a French stronghold, designed to counter English advances.

The building has towered over the village for more than nine centuries. Today, it is one of the region’s main tourist attractions, offering a beautiful panoramic view of the Dordogne Valley.