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 

05 et 06 avril 2026 : Pâques à Commarque
Help! The golden egg is missing... Big egg hunt with chocolate rewards.

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.