Château de Vieillecour

En un regard

Le château en bref

The Château de Vieillecour, at Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie in the Dordogne, was founded around the year 1000, with the present structures dating from the 12th century (1120). A defensive fortress with a square tower, wall walks and machicolations, it is said to have housed Bertrand du Guesclin and his troops for several weeks in 1372, during the Hundred Years' War. In 1388, Charles d'Albret, future Constable of France, made it his personal fief and organised the siege of Courbefy from there. A local tradition also associates the site with Richard the Lionheart, who is said to have taken refuge there after being wounded at Châlus in 1199 — although his death is historically placed at Châlus-Chabrol. From the 15th to the 17th century, the fortress was transformed into a "château d'agrément" (pleasure residence); around 1850, its moats were drained and converted into terraced gardens. Listed as a historic monument (classé monument historique) on 4 October 1946, the estate now offers three gîtes (holiday cottages for 2 to 8 people), two of which have an outdoor swimming pool.