6/13/2023 0 Comments Dordogne chateaux for saleIt was owned by the barons of Biron for the next century passing to the Augeard family until the Revolution when they were forced to immigrate, after which the castle was used as a quarry until 1938.The Château de Clérans was one of many castle complexes that were mainstays of the feudal systems of high middle ages, of which, sadly there are few examples left. This likely was a result of the infamous conversion of the nobles, intended to spur the growth of the Reformation.After playing a decisive role in the medieval history of the Périgord, the castle was placed on the sidelines. New seigneurs built housing in the castle park occupied by Calvinists and Clérans became a Protestant community. In 1453, following a three-month siege, Clérans was French again. Later it came under the seigneurs of Limeuil, vassals of the Count of Turenne, coming full circle in three centuries. A British king, Henry III, gave Clérans to the new bastide of Lalinde. At one point it was the seat of a garrison that changed sides according to who was paying them. Records show that in 1287, there were thirteen co-seigneurs of Clérans who were vassals of the Duke of Guyenne, who was also the King of England.The Hundred Years’ War brought more chaos and the castle alternated between French and British rule. This alone brought on the castle’s decline and fall. Square towers were becoming obsolete because the round tower had come into use, its circular walls more effective in deflecting new weapons, the catapult and gunfire. But, it was a strategic error that sealed the castle’s destiny. This was the beginning of an uneasy relationship with the British.In 1260, the square tower was rebuilt, doubling its size to the current height of 30meters, a massive project at the time. He championed Henry against Richard, the then-Duke of Aquitaine, drawing Clérans into a league rebelling against Richard.After Henry’s unexpected death from a cold, a victorious Richard likely stormed the castle to take his revenge on Clérans. A “sower of schism” (as he was immortalized by Dante in the “Inferno”), de Born used the seigneur of Clérans to manipulate England’s role in the Aquitaine, fueling conflict between the sons of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine – Richard the Lionheart and Henry the Young King. It was a time of political intrigue, conflict, and war during which a famous medieval troubadour, Bertran de Born, wrote about Clérans and likely entertained in the great hall. Are stored mural on a castle wall, a mere fragment of the ancient great hall, attests to castle’s prosperity. They plundered and ravaged the rich valleys of the Périgord. Clérans’s power and prestige grew: its seigneurs were warlord captains who controlled vast properties and dozens of parishes between the Dordogne and Louyre rivers. The castle and the guardhouse were rebuilt not long after, with the addition of a large Romanesque tower. When Raymond, Count of Turenne, returned from the First Crusade in 1100, he burned the castle and the town to the ground, and then repented for his deed, spending Lent in a monastery. Its location at the juncture of a medieval crossroad contributed to its strategic importance and its fate. A section of the guardhouse wall dates to the 9th century and is evidence of earlier structures. It was built in the 11th century in the traditional Aquitaine configuration, at the top of a hill with a small village clustered below. In a region celebrated for its many castles, one of the oldest and rarest is the Château de Clérans, a castle with an intriguing history. History of this ancient Castle in the Dordogne In the past years, with much pleasure and dedication, I have consolidated and restored all the walls, the reception hall and the chapel these buildings are ready for the next hundred years and don’t need much maintenance. This well-known historical monument is perfect to use as a private home and/or to use for exclusive parties, exhibitions, concerts and photo shoots.Ĭhâteau de Clérans has been featured in magazines around the world. The chapel is renovated into a comfortable living accomodation with three compact bedrooms and two bathrooms. The restored ruin of the 30 meter high keep (the oldest medieval defensive tower in the Aquitaine), the walls of the original château, the reception hall and the chapel together enclose the garden and look out over the village. A peaceful location yet only 15 minutes drive to the airport and all other facilities. The castle ‘Château de Clérans’ (11th – 13th century) is a unique and historical place forming the centre of the village of Cause de Clérans, not far from Bergerac in the Dordogne (Aquitaine). Driving down the D36 you suddenly see the enormous keep towering over the village.
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