The Chateaux of the Dordogne Valley in particular, featured significantly in the 100 Years War and none moreso than the famous Chateau Beynac and Chateau Castelnaude. The Chateaux faced each other across the River Dordogne with the French holding Beynac and the English in Castelnaud. The river helped to sustain the opposing armies by providing a trading route to the west using the flat-bottomed Gabarres.
French Garden design has long been associated with Chateaux and that’s why it is included in this section. Along with formal bedding arrangements, there tends to be a strong emphasis on geometrical patterns around a central axis. Water and Topiary are often key to the design. There are also many other gardens with their own particular design features. One classified as “Jardins remarquables” by the French Ministry of Culture is Les Jardins du Manoir d’Eyrignac