The historic village of Castelnaud is dominated by the castle which sits on a rocky spur overlooking the river Dordogne and towards the neighbouring castle of Beynac just a few kilometres away.  These two castles were held by the opposing sides during the Hundred Years War.  This stretch of the river is particularly picturesque with many villages nestling on the banks under high cliffs and with castles looking down from above.

 

The village consists of honey coloured stone houses which run down the hill from the castle to the river with Le Rouquet halfway down on the main footpath.  In the lower village, by the river, there is a general store, baker, butcher, post office, ATM machine as well as two restaurants and canoe hire office.  In the upper village, just below the castle, there are cafes and some tourist shops.

  

 

 

                       View of the river only a few yards from Le Rouquet                          One of the houses in the village at the foot of the castle