-The Château (private property, not open to the public)
High above the village is outlined the
silhouette of Montferrand Castle , the base of an ancient castellany.
Anchored to the knife-edge of the hill, cut off from the village by
its moats and castle walls, it keeps watch over the surrounding
countryside from its Romanesque tower. Eight round towers punctuate
the 700m long inner walls. It was from here that Aymeric IV de Biron
rode out on his skirmishes against Bergerac and Limeuil. The château
has suffered badly over time but the small, late-Renaissance chapel
managed to preserve its curious sculpted key-shaped ribbing. Tradition
has it that, for six or seven years during the Wars of religion, the
chapel housed the Cadouin Shroud, or Saint-Suaire, as the monks
attempted to keep it out of the harm’s way.
Montferrand Market Hall
-Montferrand
Market Hall
The architecture of the hall suggests that it was built in the latter
part of the 16th century. Originally it was supported by 24 pillars
built of local stone.
It was long owned by the Gontaut-Biron family but the commune bought
it in 1862 and since 1948 it has listed been on the Supplementary
Inventory of Historical Monuments.
By the 19th century the hall was in very bad condition and after
several bouts of work altered the structure to 16 pillars.
Village
Fête Day
Fifteen of
them have round tambours and the upper part of the sixteenth is made
of square-based tambours. It is likely that the sixteenth pillar
served as the pillory.
The hall was originally built on the naturally sloping lieof the land
and the most recent renovation work carried out in 1999 gave the hall
a flat base better adapted to local use (shows and a variety of events
are held in the market hall).
There are plans to put electric lighting in the building but they have
not yet been realised.
The commune has traced out two circular hiking trails (please
inquire at the town hall for a map of the paths)
Description : • The short trail (about 50
minutes) is sign-posted in green and white.
Starting point : the square in front of the town hall (parking
available in the square or past the church).
Set off downhill and after 30m turn left : SIGN-POSTING BEGINS
HERE
At the bottom of the hill, turn into the woods. The path takes you
to the 12th century church of St Christopher in the Graveyard.
Inside are remarkable medieval paintings depicting the principal
themes of the religious iconography of the time.
Return to the left of the path and, having crossed a field, it
will once again take you into the woods and back to the village,
coming out under the castle walls.
• The long trail (two different itineraries, A and B) sign-posted
in green and black.
Starting point for A and B : in front of the post office (parking
available in the square).
Head towards the municipal stadium. SIGN-POSTING BEGINS HERE
The path follows the valley and, after crossing the river Couze,
comes out on the D26. An information board presenting two options
awaits you here.
Itinerary A : approx. 2 hours - follow sign-posts.
Itinerary B : approx. 3 hours
Note that if you choose the second itinerary you must follow the
D26 for 1500m. (After 1000m you will go past a farm called « The
River » with a ‘Welcome to the Farm’ (‘accueil à la ferme’) sign -
this indicates that you are going in the right direction, another
500m and the sign-posted trail begins on the left in the woods).
Please note that during these walks you will come across other
trail sign-posts, notably the red and white GR registered hiking
trail ones. Ignore them and continue to follow the green and white
or green and black sign-posts.
Trails :
click here Contact Beaumont Tourist
Information Office or Montferrand town hall for a more detailed
map and further information.
