Le Château de Hautefort
Hautefort, experience beauty.
About
The Hautefort estate is unique in the land of 1001 châteaux! Originally, Hautefort was a medieval fortress, besieged many times including by Richard the Lionheart in 1183.
Bertran de Born, the famous troubadour-warrior, rebuilt it from ruins. The château gradually abandoned its defensive features in the 17th century and became a place to live and enjoy. The Marquis de Hautefort, who had risen swiftly in society, wanted a château that would reflect his power and standing.
A rare example of classical Périgord architecture, the château today is a manor furnished and decorated in 17th and 18th century style. The era of the Sun King is featured on evening tours in summer.
Although documentary archives confirm the existence of gardens in the 17th century, the real designer of the Hautefort gardens was the Compte de Choulot, one of the most famous landscape architects of the 19th century.
In 1853, Baron Maxence de Damas asked him to totally revamp the gardens. He designed the flowerbeds on the terraces surrounding the château, and the park with its network of winding paths among local species of trees that he replanted. Making the most of the garden’s dominating position, the project provided wide openings onto the surrounding environment. It was not until the 20th century that the hedge was planted in the gardens at the request of the Baron and Baroness de Bastard. Choulot’s flowerbeds, initially consisting of lawn and flowers, disappeared to be replaced by topiaries.
> SELF-GUIDED WALKS
Enjoy a self-guided walk with information panels in every room of the château. Tour leaflets, translated into multiple languages, are available for visitors at the ticket office.
An introductory historical film is shown in the video room.
> GUIDED TOUR OF THE CHÂTEAU
Guided tours in French and English are offered to groups of minimum 20 people. Booking required..
Historical presentation for individuals in summer.
> GUIDED TOUR OF THE GARDENS
The head gardener offers guided tours of the garden for schools, gardening associations, horticultural societies, etc. Minimum 20 people per group. Booking required.
> NIGHT TOURS
Wednesdays in July and August. Ticket office from 9 p.m. to 9.45 p.m.
Animations
• Animated tours for a family experience (30 min) : short historical comment, discovery tour through the gardens, immersive experience in our film studio.
• Gourmet workshops, from june to september. Create, cook and enjoy the « palet de Hautefort » in the bread oven from the 17th century !
• Easter and Toussaint : thematic animations, track games, treasure hunts, creative workshops…
• In July and August, Wednesdays evenings are not to be missed : Accompanied by a poet, his muse and their troupe in costumes, go through the great moments of the castle’s history, to the rhythm of ancient and contemporary music.
Come and discover the nocturnal dramatized tour « Les Dames de Hautefort » ! (online booking only)
• Open-air cinema, in the courtyard of the castle : July 15 and August 5 at 10 p.m. Picnic in the park from 7:30 p.m. Movies : Les Trois Mousquetaires 2 : Milady (The Three Musketeers 2) et Vice-versa 2 (Inside out 2)
Informations
CHÂTEAU DE HAUTEFORT
Le Bourg
24390 Hautefort
Tél. 05 53 50 51 23 – Fax 05 53 51 67 37
contact@chateau-hautefort.com
www.chateau-hautefort.com
April 1 to November 3 daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
June, july, August every day 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
July, August : Nocturnal dramatized tour on Wednesdays (10 p.m.), online booking only
Groups of minimum 20 people are also welcome during the annual closing but booking is required (excluding Christmas school holidays).
Adult: € 12,50
Child: € 8,50
No extra cost for all our animations !