Château des Milandes
Josephine Baker's former home - Birds of Prey show
Welcome to Château des Milandes
Essential in Dordogne Périgord! The visit of the Milandes castle in Castelnaud is a wonderful dive into the castle life at the time of Joséphine Baker Whose fate remains uncommon.
The castle
Built in 1489 by François de Caumont, lord of Castelnaud, on the initiative of his wife Claude de Cardaillac, this Renaissance castle enjoys a marvellous panorama over the Dordogne valley.
Roofs of lauzes, wainscoting, large mullioned windows and beautifully preserved stained-glass windows make up the architectural and aesthetic charm of the castle. Renaissance fireplaces stand side by side with Art-Deco bathrooms, gargoyles scan the garden and its hundred-year-old magnolias.
The Garden and the Park
The current garden was designed by Jules Vacherot, a great landscape architect of the 20th century, it is a French garden that spreads out over several terraces with fountains, boxwood, lawns and flowerbeds give it all its relief, it is listed as a historical monument.
The large park contains many species of trees including Atlas cedars, a beautiful beech, cork oaks, hackberry, tulip trees, a beautiful set of dogwoods and beautiful umbrella pines.
Self-guided tour with an audio guide and songs by the artist.
Shop. Free parking. Animations around the falconry (children 5 to 12 years old), feeding of exotic birds and immersion aviary during all the holidays.
Activities at the Château des Milandes 2021
MUSKET WORKSHOP (7-18 years old)
If your children want an introduction to fencing:
Workshop at 10.15am: Every Tuesday and Thursday
From Thursday 8 July to Thursday 26 August 2021.
Workshop at 2:30 and 4:30 pm:
During the Christmas holidays on 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 December 2021.
Workshop at 3:00 p.m:
During the Christmas holidays on 2 January 2022.
Workshop at 3:30 p.m:
Sundays 13, 20, 27 February 2022 and Sunday 6 March 2022.
Share a fencing lesson with the Lord of Caumont-strength.
The children are greeted by the son of the Lord of Caumont who is looking for the budding musketeers to present to the king. They will wear the famous habit of the musketeers and discover the learning of fencing safely.
Attacks, parries, dodges: the workshop lasts 30 minutes and takes place in the lord's "aula", the lord's living room in the castle. At the end of the workshop, the children will be able to show their parents the fight they have learned. No extra charge for the animations.
Places limited to 9 children, on reservation.
CHILD WORKSHOP (5-12 years old)
Come and play the castle like a princess or a falconer!
Discover the world of raptors with disguises and manipulation of the material. There are surprises waiting for you.
Children from 5 to 12 years old - Duration 30 mn - Reservation strongly advised; a parent is invited to follow his/her child/children during the workshop (limited to one adult per family for organisational and security reasons).
Workshop at 14:15 (except Saturday):
From Sunday 24 October to Sunday 7 November 2021.
Workshop at 10.15am: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
From Wednesday 7 July to Friday 27 August 2021
Workshop at 11:30 a.m:
During the Christmas holidays on 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 December 2021.
24 December 2021 at 11.30am and 2.30pm.
Workshop at 11:30 a.m:
During the Christmas holidays on 2 January 2022.
Workshop at 3:30 p.m:
During the winter holidays: Monday to Friday between Monday 14 February and Friday 5 March 2022.
Parents wishing to enrol their 4 year old child in the falconry workshop can do so subject to availability and payment of the entrance fee of 8.00 euros as for children over 5 years old.
ADULT FALCONRY WORKSHOP
The workshop is open to families with children over 14 years old. Duration 40 minutes - Reservation is strongly recommended.
You will handle the White-faced Owl and approach the Chaperoned Prince's falcon!
Animation at 10.15am: Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
From Thursday 8 July to Sunday 29 August 2021.
For the European Heritage Days: Saturday 18 September and Sunday 19 September 2021 at 2.15pm.
Limited to 9 people.
FEEDING EXOTIC BIRDS
Accompanied by our animator, the children enter the aviary of exotic birds to feed them; a playful way to approach these clever little birds!
Animation reserved for children from 5 to 18 years old.
The animation takes place between 12:00 and 12:45, we do not take reservations; animation within the limit of available places.
Workshop at 12:00 (except Saturday) :
From Wednesday 7 July to Sunday 29 August 2021,
From Sunday 24 October to Sunday 7 November 2021.
DIPPING POOL
To enjoy our birds all day long, we propose you to enter the aviary of our exotic birds. All public are admitted (children from 1 to 12 years old must be accompanied).
Open daily from 27 March to 11 November:
May-June-September-October from 10 am to 6 pm.
In July-August from 10am to 7.30pm.
During the Christmas holidays from 11am to 5pm (depending on the weather).
NEW! ARCHAEOLOGY WORKSHOP
Your children will be introduced to the methods and protocols of archaeology and they will discover the remains of the Milandes. Each participant will have their own excavation area and will have to record all their discoveries in order to understand the life of the Lords of Caumont and past generations.
Animation at 10:15:
Every Tuesday and Thursday. From Tuesday 14 July to Thursday 27 August 2020.
Animation at 5:15 p.m:
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2020.
For the European Heritage Days: you can rummage around with your family!
For children from 8 to 15 years old. Limited to 9 persons, on reservation. Duration 45 minutes.
Practical information
Last admission: 1 hour before closing. This period of time allows you to see the Château des Milandes and the upper terraces of the garden; nevertheless we advise you to allow at least 2 hours on the site to enjoy all the activities on offer.
Our parking is accessible free of charge, it is located a few tens of meters from the main entrance grid.
The handicapped places are about 40 meters from the gate; Attention, the persons in the armchair must be accompanied (between the parking lot and the castle, a communal road runs along the property).
The Brewery :
You can enjoy our brasserie as soon as the site opens (see opening hours).
Lunch service is available from 12 noon to 3pm all season; and in July and August, additional service from 3pm to 4pm.
The brewery is located in the castle grounds, to the east of the property, and is housed in the castle outbuilding.
On sunny days, our visitors can enjoy the terrace planted with lime trees and if the weather is bad, don't worry, the Tornoli room is there.
If you wish to contact the brewery, please call the castle: 05 53 59 31 21.
We do not take table reservations because at the castle, the first to arrive is the first to be served!
You can also take advantage of several services during the tourist season, as our visitors also have other things to do at the castle and the tables are always free between 1.30 and 2.30 pm.
Discover our map here
Tariff details
RATES 2021
The entrance ticket gives access to the castle, the garden, the birds of prey show and the animations proposed according to the periods.
Adult (from 17 years old): 12.50 €.
Children from 5 to 16 years old: 8 €.
People with reduced mobility: 10€.
Person in a wheelchair: 7€.
Children under 5 years old: free
Admission is free for children with disabilities (upon presentation of proof).
To visit the castle: free audio guide.
Methods of payment :
Cash, credit card, holiday vouchers (completed in advance). Holiday vouchers are accepted in the shop and restaurant.
Attention: Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the 2021 season will see several changes. At this time, the 2020 brochure is still in circulation, so there may be slight changes to our opening hours, shows and events, and to our admission prices. Our 2021 brochure will be available from July. Only the "Ornithologist for a day" workshop is cancelled for the season, as well as the Escape Game about Josephine Baker. Finally, the new mandarin aviary cannot be built this year. Thank you for your understanding.
Dates and Times
OPENING of the Château des Milandes 2021
From 30 August to 30 September 2021
9.30am - 7pm
October 2021 (except for time change 10am-6pm)
9.30am - 6.30pm
From 1 November to 11 November 2021
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
From 18 December 2021 to 2 January 2022
11:00 am - 7:00 pm
From 5 February to 25 March 2022
14:00 - 18:00