Feudal fortress of the Perigord Noir

Château de Fénelon

A feudal fortress in the Périgord Noir, Fénelon was the birthplace of François Armand de Salignac de la Mothe Fénelon, better known by his pen name ‘Fénelon’ (A treatise on the education of girls), who lived during the Age of Enlightenment under Louis XIV. Today, the château is privately owned and still inhabited by its owners, which makes it all the more interesting.

Listed as a Historic Monument, it is one of the castle that enthrals lovers of old stones. Surrounded by 3 fortified walls, it is presented today as it was in the past, with its impressive slate roof. Fénelon has been magnificently restored and each room is decorated in period style with parquet flooring, furniture and tapestries.

Distance from La Barde: 20 minutes

To visit Fenelon is to travel back in time and discover the feudal era of the Dordogne-Périgord region. Inside and out, you’ll find a wealth of treasures. The little extra? The Cabinet of Curiosities, with its large number of unusual and mysterious objects supposedly brought back from faraway journeys by the explorers of the time!