The fortified towns of Aquitaine
Here are four circuits around medieval Aquitaine … The towns mentioned below are in no way an exhaustive list.
Named thus because it lies between the Dordogne and Garonne, the
Entre-Deux-Mers was occupied by the English for a long period of the Middle
Ages. All the bastide towns here were built by the representatives of
the English Crown, with the sole exception of Sainte-Foy-la-Grande,
founded by Alphonse of Poitiers.
On your way through the hills and vineyards, you will pass the fortified
towns of Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, Sainte-Foy-la-Grande with its old
wood-framed houses, and Monségur, looking down onto the valley of
the Dropt, the only bastide town in the Gironde to be built on a
hilltop. Then there are also Créon, Cadillac and Blasimon…
The bastides in this region with a rich medieval history really stand out by their excellent state of conservation. Domme, known as the Acropolis of Black Perigord, still boasts incredible vestiges left by the Knights Templar. Monflanquin has charming little alleyways that make for a delightful stroll, while Monpazier is in exemplary condition and boasts no less than 32 buildings listed as “historic monuments”, rich in history and memories of an eventful past. You will also discover the fortified towns of Eymet, Villefranche-du-Périgord, Villeréal and others…
Once the frontier between the kingdoms of France and England, this area saw extensive efforts on both sides to build fortified towns.
In the heart of the Landes, make sure you see Labastide d’Armagnac, one of the most beautiful examples of these towns in the region and also remarkably well conserved. Vianne, with its ramparts, towers and gateways is the only bastide town to bear a woman’s name - that of its founder’s aunt. Saint-Justin, Puymirol, Caudecoste are other jewels that really should not be missed.
Along the Adour and the valleys of Pau and Oloron, between Béarn and the Basque Country near the Spanish frontier, the fortified towns are strongly influenced by the local architectural style. In Navarrenx you will discover the military architecture of the times. In Labastide Clairence, listed as one of the “loveliest villages in France”, the half-timbered houses and remarkable church with its Romanesque porch are sure to charm visitors. And make sure you do not forget the fortified towns of Geaune, Grenade-sur-l’Adour, Sorde-l’Abbaye and Montfort-en-Chalosse.
