Château de la Marthonie

Saint-Jean-de-Côle

The castle takes its name from the La Marthonie family, who came from Milhac-de-Nontron and are attested from 1256. In the 13th century the land was held both of the viscount of Limoges and of the king of France, and an early castle protected the district of Thiviers and the priory founded, by tradition, around 1082. During the Hundred Years' War the English seized the village in 1394, settled there and fortified it, before being driven out in 1405. Étienne de La Marthonie rebuilt the castle from the end of the 15th century, and his son completed it at the beginning of the 16th. The village suffered a Protestant sack in 1569. Around 1650 the land was raised to a marquisate. Marie-Claude de Beynac inherited it; her husband Christophe de Beaumont emigrated in 1793 and the estate was sold as national property, before being partly bought back around 1830.

Getting there : Private property; occasional opening, in particular as part of the departmental "Châteaux en fête" event (Dordogne Périgord Tourisme). Outside those dates, the front can be seen from the village square.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound