Puymartin Castle

The 13^th century Château de Puymartin is a castle in the commune of Marquay, in the Dordogne département of France.

Puymartin Castle history

At the beginning of the Hundred Years War, the Castle of Puymartin played a major part in the conflict between France and England. On January 8th, 1357, when the Castle was attacked by English mercenaries, the Consul in Sarlat had envoys sent to negotiate their departure in exchange for money. In order to avoid being captured and occupied again, it was decided that the battlements and the defensive features of the walls and roofs of the Castle should be removed and destroyed and the floorboards ripped out.

Puymartin therefore remained virtually in ruins throughout the Hundred Years War. The consuls of Sarlat bought the domain back from the English but then abandoned the castle.

Radulphe de Saint-Clar re-purchased it in 1450 and enlarged it. In the 16th century, Raymond de Saint-Clar defeated the Protestants during the French Wars of Religion. Under the name of Capitaine de Puymartin, he expelled the Huguenots from Sarlat.

During the 18th century, Jean de Saint-Clar contended with his sister Suzanne for possession of the castle. Suzanne won and kept Puymartin.

In 1789, the Castle was owned by Marquis François Roffignac Carbonnier de Marzac. At the end of the 19th century, the castle was completely renovated by his great grandson, Marquis Marc Roffignac de Carbonnier de Marzac. The Marquis’s only daughter married Count Jacques de Montbron in 1920. The Montbron family still own the Castle to this day. They preserved the furniture, the tapestries of Aubusson and the exceptional paintings.

In the mythology room paintings are grisailles fixed onto the woodwork with egg white. They were painted between 1650 and 1571 by French artist Philippe Lemaire and feature scenes from Greek mythology.

Puymartin Castle today

Château de Puymartin is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture. Guided tours are available.

Getting to Puymartin Castle

The Château de Puymartin is located close to Sarlat-La-Canéda and between the Dordogne valley, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac and Les caves de Lascaux. Most visitors choose to drive to the castle.