About Montréal Castle
The 12th century Château de Montréal is a château in the Dordogne department located near the commune of Issac, in southwestern France. It overlooks the valley of the Crempse River.
Montréal Castle history
It was built as a castle in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 16th century. The Pontbriand family built the château in its current form. They also built the chapel Sainte-Épine. They modernized the double walls of the ramparts, which are very well preserved, and added the Renaissance-style façade of the residence.
The gardens were built on the ramparts of the fortress at the beginning of the 20th century by Achille Duchêne. The lower garden is in the Italian style, and features hibiscus and yew trees, and walls covered with white roses and white clematis. The upper garden is a garden à la française, with ornamental flower beds and a topiary garden. The garden was badly damaged by a storm in 1999, and has been replanted. The gardens are classified by the Committee of Parks and Gardens of the Ministry of Culture as one of the Notable Gardens of France.
Montréal Castle today
The castle has been classified as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture since 1948. It is now a private residence.
In summertime, the house is open for visits of the salons, which have a collection of portraits, and the circular library in the tower. Guided tours are available
Getting to Montréal Castle
Montréal castle is close to the town of Mussidan which has a variety of bars, restaurants and shops. The pretty village of Issac is also nearby. The easier way to get to the site is to drive.
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