Country France Department Dordogne Intercommunality Périgord Noir Area 12.74 km² Arrondissement Sarlat-la-Canéda | Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine Canton Sarlat-la-Canéda Population (2008) 514 Local time Monday 5:23 AM | |
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Weather 8°C, Wind S at 8 km/h, 95% Humidity | ||
Beynac-et-Cazenac is a commune in the Dordogne department in southwestern France.
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Map of 24220 Beynac-et-Cazenac, France
The medieval Château de Beynac is located in the commune.
The village is classified as one of Les plus beaux villages de France (most beautiful villages of France).
Geography
The commune lies on the banks of the Dordogne River 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Sarlat-la-Canéda.
History
Historically the first mention of Beynac dates to 1115 when Maynard de Beynac made a gift to the sisters at Fontevrault Abbey. Simon de Montfort seized the château at the end of the 12th century, but the people of Beynac recovered their château thanks to the intervention of Philippe Auguste in 1217. The château stayed in possession of the family until 1761, the time of the marriage of Marie Claude de Beynac with Christophe de Beaumont. It was with Marie Claude de Beynac that this branch of the family ended. One of the descendants sold the château in 1961.
In 1827, the communes of Beynac and Cazenac were merged under the current name.