Visit Château Bonaguil from your holiday park in Dordogne-Lot, in France

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The Château de Bonaguil is a beautiful medieval castle located on the border of the Quercy and the Périgord region. We recommend visiting the castle for a day whilst on holiday with your family in the Dordogne – Lot region. Château de Bonaguil is located on territory belonging to the municipality of St. Front-sur-Lémance, but is owned by the neighboring municipality of Fumel in the department of Lot-et-Garonne. The castle was built from the 13th to the 16th century, this magnificent fortress is known as one of the most beautiful fortresses in France and is a unique example of medieval architecture in Europe. As you approach the castle you will see the imposing towers and walls that rise high above the surrounding hills. Once inside, you can spend hours wandering through the many rooms, towers and secret passages. Your children will feel like real knights and princesses as they cross the drawbridge and climb the keep. Château de Bonaguil is surrounded by hilly terrain with forests and valleys, just like your holiday home in the Dordogne - Lot.

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A day at Château de Bonaguil during the holidays

Take the touristic route from your holiday home to Château de Bonaguil. The castle is a beautiful example of medieval architecture. A day at Château de Bonaguil offers a unique insight into the transformations that castles have undergone over the centuries with the invention of gunpowder and the rise of artillery. The keep, towers and turrets, barbican, chicane, casemates, cannon holes, the 350m long outer wall, drawbridge and moats, all bear witness to this. The tour guide can tell you all about it during the tour. After entering through the Ravelin (or the Barbican), you will see fortified walls and parts of collapsed rooms with fire pits halfway up these collapsed walls. The castle has round towers with lookouts over the valley and loopholes at different heights. A castle built on rocks has the advantage that a space can be carved into the rocks which could serve as a refrigerator (room), but the disadvantage of this is that the well had to be dug almost 50 meters deep before they reached the groundwater. However, this does mean that you are independent of water supply in the event of a siege.

Château de Bonaguil

Donjon
Towers
Ravelin or Barbican
Secret passages
Drawbridges
Chicane
Casemates
Cannon holes
Loopholes
Well

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Château de Bonaguil and the Roquefeuil family

The castle was built in the 13th century on a steep rocky point, which earned it the nickname "bonne aguille" (good needle), from which the name Bonaguil originated. The bond between Bonaguil and the Roquefeuil family began in 1380, when Jean de Fumel-Pujols married Jeanne Catherine de Roquefeuil. Their son Antoine united the possessions of both families, leaving Bonaguil in the hands of the Roquefeuils. In 1444, Jean de Roquefeuil, a grandson of Antoine, moved with his wife to Bonaguil. At the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th century, it was expanded by Baron Bérenger de Roquefeuil, a member of a powerful Languedoc family. He fortified the fortress with an impressive defensive system with double ring walls and six high towers of casemates and cannon holes, which were designed to meet the latest military requirements. Remarkably, this castle has never been attacked. After Bérenger's death in 1530, the castle fell into disrepair due to financial problems and divisions within the family. During the French Wars of Religion, two brothers from the family even fought on opposite sides, which led to temporary takeovers of the castle. Eventually, Antoine de Roquefeuil had to sell the fort in 1618, although he later bought it back. In the 17th century, Marguerite Gilberte, a descendant of the family, played a role in the maintenance of the castle. She inherited Bonaguil in poor condition but carried out several restorations before finally moving elsewhere. In the 18th century, the castle came into the hands of Marguerite de Fumel, who had it rebuilt into a more habitable castle. The castle of Bonaguil has a small church at the foot of the castle: St Front sur Lémance. This church is the final resting place of two important figures with regards to the history of the castle: Bérenger de Roquefeuil and Marguerite de Fumel.

Secret passages in Château de Bonaguil

One of the most intriguing aspects of Bonaguil is the secret passages that run through the castle. They provide a unique insight into medieval military architecture and daily life in the castle. These hidden passages were crucial for defense and possible escape during sieges. Some of these secret passages are accessible to visitors today, providing a unique opportunity to discover the hidden side of the castle. The corridors have the following functions:
Defensive network: The hidden corridors formed a complex network that was crucial for the defense of the castle. They allowed the residents to move unnoticed during sieges.
Escape routes: Some secret passages likely served as escape routes for the castle residents in case of emergency.
Connection between defenses: The passages connected different parts of the castle, such as the keep, towers and the barbican, which allowed efficient communication and troop movement.
Surprise attacks: The secret passages provided opportunities for surprise attacks on besiegers, where defenders could unexpectedly appear at strategic points.
Inventory storage: Some hidden spaces may have been used for storing supplies, which was crucial during prolonged sieges. These secret passages contribute to Bonaguil's reputation as one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval fortresses in France.

Defenses of the castle

The castle has an impressive defense system that was never actually put to use. When visiting the castle you will be able to see the ingenious defense tactics it had and what daily life was like in a medieval castle. Some notable elements are:
Barbican: (semicircular stronghold) between two drawbridges, which created a double line of defense.
Casemates and cannon holes: showing the transition to the use of firearms.
Well: 50m deep carved into the rock, which made the castle independent of external water supply during sieges.

The drawbridge of Château de Bonaguil is unique because of its ingenious double defense system. The castle has two drawbridges that are part of an advanced defense mechanism. Between these two drawbridges is a barbican, a semicircular stronghold that served as an additional defensive structure. The second drawbridge was only lowered after the first drawbridge was raised. This created an additional line of defense and made it extremely difficult for attackers to penetrate the castle.

For children, this is a very special experience which they will talk about for the rest of the holiday. Be sure to add Bonaguil to your list of must-sees, along with places like Rocamadour, Sarlat, Beynac and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.

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Medieval festivals and other festivals in August

The castle hosts various activities which are popular throughout the region. Be sure to visit Château Bonaguil, if they organise an event whilst you are on holiday in a holiday home in the Dordogne.

Les Médiévales Bonaguil-Fumel: These medieval festivals take place in July. During this event, you can enjoy historical performances, watch demonstrations of old crafts and experience an authentic medieval atmosphere with damsels and knights. Knights and soldiers stage battles and tournaments, complete with authentic weapons and costumes. Local vendors offer handmade products, medieval-inspired food, and souvenirs. Medieval musicians and dancers create a lively atmosphere.
Festival in August: In the first week of August, a large festival is organized at the castle and the nearby nature theater of Fumel. This festival includes theatre pieces and other cultural activities.

The Donjon of Bonaguil

Central in the gigantic castle you will find the Donjon, which is built in boat form. It is the masterpiece of the defense system with the following features:
Boat-shaped construction: The keep is built in a striking boat shape, which distinguishes it from traditional square or round towers that stand in other places or around the wall around Château de Bonaguil.
Multiple floors: The keep consists of six rooms spread over three floors, which creates a complex internal structure, highlighting what people were capable of building at that time.
Panoramic view: there is a terrace on top of the keep that offers a beautiful view of the entire castle and the surrounding landscape where you can even see several touristic villages
Central position: The keep is in the centre of the gigantic structure and is the heart of the defense system. From here, the defense of the château was directed.
Architectural masterpiece: The keep of Château de Bonaguil is considered the masterpiece of the castle's defense system, reflecting the military and architectural expertise of the time.

These features make the Donjon of Bonaguil an impressive example of medieval military architecture and a focal point in the castle's defense and design.

Visit the château de Bonaguil

The castle is located on a hill and can be seen from the road that leads up to the castle.

Try to park on top of the mountain, seen as this is where the entrance gate is.
Tours (both guided and independent) that give you more insight into the functioning of the castle in earlier times.
Beautiful views of the area from the roof terrace.
Various activities and workshops.
Medieval festivals in July.
An escape game.

Tips, advice and practical information

Wear comfortable shoes as the terrain is hilly.
Bring water when it's hot.
Check the weather conditions before your visit.
Use a baby carrier for small children.
Consider a guided tour if you want to learn more about the castle.
Hours: Open every day, from March to October from 10:00 to 17:30, in July and August from 10:00 to 19:00.
Entrance fees: Approx. €9.50 for adults, €7.50 for teenagers (13-17 years), €5.00 for children (6-12 years), under 6 years free.
Location: Located in Saint-Front-sur-Lémance, about 2 hours drive from Bordeaux and Toulouse.