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The domain of Hautefort is unique in the kingdom of 1001 châteaux! Hautefort was originally a medieval fortress, which was then subjected to several sieges, including that of Richard the Lionheart in 1183.
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Bertran de Born, the famous warrior-troubadour, raised it from its ruins. The château’s defences were gradually relinquished in the 17th century, and it was transformed into a château de plaisance, a place of leisure. The Marquises of Hautefort, whose social ascension was astonishing, wanted a château to reflect their power and rank
A rare testimony to classic architecture in Périgord, the château is today a furnished stately home, decorated in keeping with the fashions of the 17th and 18th centuries. The 17th century is celebrated at summer open evenings. |
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Although archive documents confirm the existence of gardens in the 17th century, the true designer of the gardens at Hautefort is the Comte de Choulot, one of the most famous landscape gardeners of the 19th century.
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In 1853, Baron Maxence de Damas asked him to completely redesign the gardens. He designed the flower beds on the terraces surrounding the château, and park made up of a network of paths winding through the woods, replanted with exotic or resinous tree species. Taking advantage of the commanding position of the garden, the project allowed for wide views over the surrounding countryside and cleverly hid the buildings in the foreground which did not belong to the estate. Only in the 20th century were the box trees introduced to the gardens by the Baron and Baronesse de Bastard. Choulot’s beds, initially made up of lawn and flowers, disappeared to give way to box hedges and topiary. |
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| > Opening dates and times |
March :weekends and bank holidays from 2pm to 6pm / April and May : every day from 10am to 12.30am and from 2pm to 6.30pm
June: everyday from 9.30am to 7pm / July and August: every day from 9.30am to 7pm
evenings on Wednesdays from 8.30pm to 11pm
September: everyday from 9.30am to 7pm /
Oct.: everyday from 2pm to 6pm/
1 to 11 Nov.: weekends and bank holidays from 2pm to 6pm
Annual closing: 12 Nov. to 29 February.
Groups of at least 20 people are admitted during annual closing by prior arrangement (except Christmas school holidays). |
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