Château de Beynac: A French Castle Preserved for the Ages

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit a French Romanesque castle from the 12th century.

On a limestone cliff nearly 500 feet high, France’s 12th-century castle offers visitors a 360-degree view of the southwestern village Beynac-et-Cazenac. Named after the commune where it was built, the Château de Beynac features defensive stone walls, towers, and a rooftop battlement with merlons (raised stone areas) and crenellations (gaps in between merlons). clemMtravel/Shutterstock

In the United States, the oldest Western structures were built in the 17th century; thus, for many Americans, a French castle built in the 12th century is awe-inspiring.

Indeed, the Château de Beynac is so historic that it was a stronghold during the Hundred Years’ War, which spanned from 1337 to 1453. Thus, some of the features of the Romanesque architectural masterpiece are indicative of medieval characteristics: a guard room; a “keep,” which was a refuge area in case of an attack; and a barbican, or fortified entrance.