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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Montferrand Castle, located in Montferrand-du-Périgord in the Dordogne department, is a medieval monument dating back to the twelfth century. At that time he belonged to the bastide of Beaumont and served as a noble den. Its strategic location, at the crossroads of commercial roads and near the Couze River, favoured artisanal activities such as mills and forges, essential for local development. The site was also protected by a dominant position on a plateau, isolated by bleeds in the soil and moats.

At the end of the 12th century, the Biron family, after leaving their ancestral castle, settled in Montferrand and transformed the den into a real castle. The crenellated square dungeon, typical of 12th century military architecture, as well as ramparts and round towers, date from this period. In the 14th century, the castle became a châtellenie held by a Biron branch, consolidating its defensive and seigneurial role. Subsequent generations, like Aymeric IV of Biron (living around 1380), continued this line until the castle entered the Gontaut-Biron family in 1540 by the marriage of Marguerite de Faubournet de Montferrand with Pons de Gontaut.

The castle underwent transformations in the 16th and 17th centuries, with the addition of a chapel and commons, reflecting the evolution of its use towards a more comfortable residence. Sold as a national property during the Revolution, it was acquired in the 19th century by Abbé Treille, who began work to clear the fortifications and possibly the construction of the Treille Bridge. In 1922, the castle returned to the descendants of the Faubournet de Montferrand family. Today, it has been fully protected since 2013 as historical monuments, including remains, soils and the fortified enclosure, demonstrating its heritage importance.

The castle was also used as a backdrop for filming, such as Guillaume Sanjorge's Draculi & Gandolfi series, adding a contemporary cultural dimension to its medieval history. Its architecture, marked by two enclosures separated by moat and an imposing dungeon, illustrates the defensive techniques of the Middle Ages, while integrating elements of later periods.

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