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Origin and history

The castle of Miremont, located in Dordogne on the town of Mauzens-et-Miremont, is a fortified building whose origins date back to at least the twelfth century, with major changes in the fourteenth century. It occupied a strategic position on a rocky spur, overlooking the valleys of Manaurie and Brungidou, as well as the castral village of Miremont. Its name, Miremont (of the verb mirer, look), reflects this panoramic position which made it a key monitoring point in the region.

During the Hundred Years' War, the castle played an important military role. After Bergerac was taken by the English in 1345, the seigneury of Limeuil — on which Miremont depended — was occupied by English garrisons. Jean de Galard, Baron of Limeuil and Miremont, was captured, and his strongholds fell in succession. According to Froissart, Miremont resisted English assaults for three days before surrendering. The castle changed hands several times between French and English: the count of Derby, Henry de Grosmont, even ordered the repair and completion of its ramparts to strengthen its defence. In 1373, the English seized it again and gave it to Heliot Buada, captain of Bergerac, on the order of the Duke of Lancastre.

The architecture of the castle reveals traces of different eras. The 12th century Romanesque dungeon, with its flat foothills, was remodeled in the Renaissance, while some walls feature a fish ridge apparatus, a technique typical of the 11th or 12th century. The western and southern parts were rebuilt in the 14th century, reflecting the defensive adaptations of conflicts. The general plan, in irregular quadrilateral, was protected by a double walled enclosure of square towers, a drawbridge, and a system of defensive terraces. Inside, buildings backed by walls delineated a vast esplanade.

Miremont's châtellenie included several surrounding parishes, including Mauzens, Savignac-de-Miremont and Fleurac, highlighting its administrative and strategic importance. The French Revolution finished ruining the building, whose remains were classified as Historic Monument in 1971. Today, the ruins offer an overview of medieval military techniques and the territorial stakes of the Dordogne during the Hundred Years War.

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