Château de Commarque

The castle of Combrand, overlooking the Beune Valley, was built at the end of the 12th century to protect the Benedictine Abbey of Sarlat. Initially, it is a simple wooden tower perched on the rock.

Step by step the place is enlarged by the construction of a house tower and a chapel. From the 14th century, when the Beynac family gains dominion over the place, the wooden dungeon is replaced by a stone dungeon, which is expanded several times and inhabited by the Lords of Beynac.

After the conquest by the English during the Hundred Years' War and the turmoil of the Wars of Religion, the site is gradually abandoned after the death of the last landowner Guy de Beynac in 1656 and is then completely deserted in the 18th century Gradually the castle decays.

In 1972, the Château de Commarque was purchased by Hubert de Commarque, who began to save the site, which was completely covered by vegetation and was in a state of advanced decay.

Accompanied by the monument protection authority, consolidation and restoration work saved the walls, which were in danger of collapsing, and the castle is gradually shining again in new splendor.

At the same time, an archaeological excavation program is being carried out to increase knowledge about life in the castrum and its organization in the Middle Ages.

At the foot of the rock is a treasure of parietal art: the engravings of the Cave of Commarquez. They were discovered on August 9, 1915 by Abbé Breuil, Mr. Pierre Paris (then owner of the Château de Beyssac) and his sons who were exploring the caves of the region.

34 engravings were counted, including a magnificent horse carved in low relief and numerous anthropomorphic figures: pregnant woman, female profiles, etc.

The cave was declared a historical monument on February 11, 1924. It is not accessible for conservation and design reasons, but you can discover the prehistoric cave of Commarquez through a photographic exhibition (with the support of the National Museum of Prehistory and the International Pole of Prehistory) and a video since shown in the Great Dungeon Room.