Castles of the Dordogne: Château de Fenelon
Château de Fénelon The Château de Fénelon is a listed historic monument, located in the Dordogne department on the heights of the town of Saint-Mondane from where it dominates the valleys of the Dordogne and Bouriane. The castle was the birthplace of François de Salignac de la Motte Fénelon (much better known by his name of writer Fénelon) who lived during the reign of the Enlightenment of Louis XIV and became Archbishop of Cambrai. The castle draws up its powerful architecture behind three fortified enclosures whose defensive system has been kept intact. The front door was defended by a first gatehouse. The attackers then had to bypass a second defensive wall which left them uncovered and led them to a second 'chatelet' defending access to the foot of the castle. The fortress played a strategic role during the Hundred Years War and was besieged on numerous occasions. Château de Fénelon Main courtyard, Château de Fénelon Well (90m deep), Château de Fénelon The castle was then...