Chateau de Hautefort - 40km east of Perigueux, Hautefort is one of the most prestigious chateaux in Dordogne and indeed South-West France and is a listed historical monument.

It stands in an enviable position overlooking the Auvezere Valley and over Hautefort village, a grand chateau with two wings each terminating in a round tower. The whole is surrounded by impressive French style formal gardens. It is a style of chateau little known in the Dordogne and more like those built by the nobles in the Loire Valley.

Standing on the position of an earlier, 12th century, chateau Hautefort was built in the middle of the 17th century. After subsequently falling into disrepair, it became the life work of the Baron and Baronnesse de Bastard to reconstruct and renovate the chateau, a task that took several decades during the middle of the 20th century, to be completed by 1968 (after the baron had died his wife continued alone).

In a terrible turn of events, shortly after four decades of work had been completed the chateau burned to the ground. Undeterred the baroness resumed work again, and the chateau was again renovated. The resulting fine castle is a tribute to the eforts of the two of them (a room in one of the towers of the chateau commemorates the events of the incendiary in 1968).

Apart form the splendours of the building itself, Chateau de Hautefort contains an impressive collection of 17th century paintings and tapestries. It is one of the most popular and visited chateaux in the region. Recent event: the 1998 file 'Ever After' with Drew Barrymore was filmed in the Dordogne including Chateau Hautefort and Chateau Fenelon

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