Château de Commarque

Welcome to Château de Commarque

Château de Commarque: a medieval castrum

Overlooking the Beune valley, Château de Commarque was built to protect the Benedictine abbey of Sarlat at the end of the 12th century. At first, it was a simple wooden tower perched atop the cliff. Gradually, the site expanded, with the construction of tower houses and a chapel. From the 14th century onwards, as the de Beynac family took control of the estate, the wooden keep was replaced by a stone keep, which was raised several times and occupied by the lords of Beynac.

Later, several towers, each accompanied by a dwelling, were built and occupied by lineages of minor nobility such as the Commarque, Cendrieux and Gondrix families.

Taken in turn by the English during the Hundred Years' War, then caught up in the tumult of the Wars of Religion, the site was gradually abandoned after the death of its last lord, Guy de Beynac, in 1656, and was completely deserted by the 18th century. Little by little, the château fell into ruin.

In 1972, the Château de Commarque was purchased by Hubert de Commarque, who set about rescuing the site, which was then completely overgrown and in an advanced state of disrepair.

Accompanied by the French Historic Monuments Administration, consolidation and restoration work saved the elevations, which were in danger of collapsing, and the château is gradually regaining all its splendor.

At the same time, a program of archaeological excavations is underway to enrich our knowledge of life in the Castrum and its organization in the Middle Ages.

Prehistoric times

Beneath the foot of the cliff lies a treasure trove of cave art: the engravings in the Commarque cave. Celles-They were discovered on August 9, 1915 by Abbé Breuil, Pierre Paris (then owner of Château de Beyssac) and his sons, who were exploring the caves in the region.

34 engravings were counted, including a magnificent horse carved in bas-relief and numerous anthropomorphic figures: pregnant women, female profiles, etc...

The cave was declared a historic monument on February 11, 1924. Access is not open to visitors for conservation and configuration reasons, but you can discover the Grotte préhistorique de Commarque through a photo exhibition (with the support of the Musée National de Préhistoire and the Pôle International de la Préhistoire) and a video projected in the main hall of the keep.

Château de Commarque today.

The mysteries of the Forgotten Fortress

Once upon a time, in a legendary valley, there was a grandiose millefeuille of stones where dungeons and castles, troglodytes and prehistoric caves are superimposed on a rocky spur in a breathtakingly preserved landscape.
You'll discover the thousand-year-old history and magic of this unique site in Périgord through a veritable journey through time.

Included in admission: Guided tour, audio-guide by Guillaume Galienne, captivating exhibitions and 3D projections, nature trail, old-time games and themed workshops, medieval treasure hunt.

Guided tours school vacations and public holidays (included in admission ticket)

Easter, All Saints' Day and public holidays: 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 3.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.

Summer vacations: 10am, 11:30am, 3pm, 4:30pm, 6pm.

Workshops (included in admission)
Archery, Flagpole shooting, Thruster shooting, Stone carving, Medieval calligraphy

Easter, All Saints' Day and public holidays: 2.30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Summer vacations: 3:30 pm - 6 pm

Sunday: archery
Monday: thruster shooting
Tuesday: archery
Wednesday: Stone sculpture
Thursday: Calligraphy
Friday: flag shooting

Events and Activities 

April 9/10: Easter at Commarque
Help! The golden egg is missing... Big egg hunt with chocolate rewards.

Historical Escape Game :
Your mission in this detective game will be to continue the quest of the famous archaeologist "Indy", who disappeared while trying to unravel the mystery of the Ark of the Covenant, believed to hold a secret protected for centuries by a diabolical mechanism.
Our historical escape game in the Dordogne is a real detective game for families and friends.
Reservations required: https://www.lacapenoire.com/

Abseiling from the dungeon 

Abseiling with equipment from the keep's ramparts.
Supervised by a qualified instructor
Breathtaking view of the castrum and the Beune valley
40 m of descent, adrenaline guaranteed.

Sunday 24th - Tuesday 26th April
Friday May 27 - Sunday May 29
Sunday June 5th

July: Wednesday 19 - Sunday 24 - Tuesday 26 - Thursday 28 - Sunday 31

August: Tuesday 2 - Thursday 4 - Sunday 7 - Tuesday 9 - Thursday 11 - Sunday 14 - Tuesday 16 - Thursday 18

Reservations required: https://commarque.regiondo.fr/descente-en-rappel-du-donjon-du-chateau-de-commarque

The medieval troupe storms the Commarque fortress!

Every day from August 14 to 24, discover the life of a medieval troupe and thrill to the sight of real combatants equipped with authentic medieval armor and weapons.

A nocturnal journey of light and mystery

In 2023, discover Commarque under a new light and new nights!
For the first time in centuries, the Château de Commarque lights up in the heart of summer to bring back the reliefs of the past. When legends meet history around the Ark of the Covenant, the lights intertwine in a unique choreography to bring the forgotten valley back to life. Along an illuminated trail, come and experience a magical moment where twilight and dungeons meet history and mystery.

Sparklers Sound Festival
For its 2nd edition, the Sparklers Tribe Festival once again takes over the Château de Commarque site in the Dordogne for two evenings of original concerts. On the program: a crazy line-up and entertainment in a magical setting!

Access/visits for people with disabilities and reduced mobility

The special nature of the Commarque site means that the Château cannot be visited by people with motor disabilities. By following a signpost from the main parking lot, visitors with disabilities and reduced mobility can drive right up to the entrance to the site, where parking spaces are reserved for them.

The private part of the château, located in the valley, is accessible free of charge to disabled visitors and those with reduced mobility, who will be able to enjoy a magnificent view of the Château de Commarque and the Château de Laussel. We offer a simplified tour booklet.