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Châteaux
in the Dordogne
It is in the Perigord that
one finds the largest number of stately homes in France.
And if the châteaux of Perigord are not exceptional
for their beauty they are, without doubt, exceptional for
their number. According to Jean Secret the department of
the Dordogne has 1500 châteaux, manoirs and gentilhommières.
This large number of châteaux is explained, in part,
by strong inherited rivalries which generated a multitude
of 'little lords', generally penniless but often ready to
affirm their superiority.
The height of the keep and the
thickness of the exterior walls not only serve to resist
attacks, but also to conjure up an image of power. The higher
the châteaux, the better the idea of domination over
land and men will be instilled in the minds of the humble.
From
the year 1000 the seigniorial château has known
an extraordinary evolution. In the Perigord this progress
is easy to follow since architectural innovations have been
added to the old structures, rather than purely and simply
replacing them. Indeed, many Perigordine châteaux
harmoniously display a large diversity of styles due to
successive periods of construction. The château at
Biron is interesting for the diversity of styles that have
been added on over successive generations. |
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