First written entry 1340 (≈ 1340)
Cited under *Podium Sancti Asterii* in the archives.
XVe siècle
Construction of the current castle
Construction of the current castle XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Building after this period, marked by the Hundred Years War.
XVIIe–XVIIIe siècles
Major transformations
Major transformations XVIIe–XVIIIe siècles (≈ 1850)
Logis and interior elements redesigned in residential style.
1er février 1988
Historic Monument Protection
Historic Monument Protection 1er février 1988 (≈ 1988)
Registration of facades, roofs and interior elements.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The facades and roofs of the castle; the two chimneys of the large second floor room; the vaulted ceilings on the ground floor of the North Tower and the chapel; the painted ceiling of the small living room; the remains of the ramparts; the pigeonnier (Case AH 71): inscription by order of 1 February 1988
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character named in the sources
The archives cite gentlemen from the Périgord without details.
Origin and history
The Château du Puy-Saint-Astier, also known as Château du Puy, is located in the commune of Saint-Astier, in the Dordogne department (Nouvelle-Aquitaine). Attested as early as 1340 under the name Podium Sancti Asterii, it was marked by successive conflicts, including the Hundred Years War. The present building, after the 15th century, underwent major changes in the 17th and 18th centuries, continuing as a witness to the architectural and strategic evolutions of the region.
Located on a plateau overlooking the Isle Valley, 2 km northeast of Saint-Astier, the castle consists of two square houses connected by a polygonal tower housing a staircase with screws. Two round towers, one converted into a chapel, reinforce its enclosure. The facades, roofs, monumental chimneys, painted ceilings and remains of the ramparts (including a dovecote) have been protected since 1988 as historical monuments. The mâchicoulis, which disappeared in the 19th century, recall its defensive past.
Historical sources evoke quarrels between gentlemen of the Périgord, without specifying direct links with the castle. The 17th and 18th century transformations reflect the adaptation of the site to residential uses, while maintaining medieval elements. A 2008 study traces its history from 1025 to the present, highlighting its role as a seigneury and family home throughout the centuries.
The castle illustrates the local dynamics: feudal conflicts, architectural adaptations and the social role of seigneuries in Périgord. Its inscription among historical monuments in 1988 enshrines its heritage value, mixing medieval heritage and classical embellishments. The archives also mention his involvement in the wars of Religion and the Fronde, although the details remain fragmentary.
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