Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cost and Hours:
€7.50, daily May-Oct 10:00-18:00, Nov-April closes at
17:00—depending on weather and whim, last entry 45 minutes before closing, tel. 05 53
29 50 40.
Information:
You're free to wander on your own, though occasional tours are avail-
able in English. Pick up the English explanations (€0.15) or spring for the excellent €5
pamphlet, and don't miss the nearby viewpoint (described next).
Walks and Viewpoints
Atoo-busyroadseparatesBeynacfromitsriver,makingwalksalongtheriverunappealing
in the village center. Traffic-free lanes climb steeply uphill from the river to the
château—the farther you get from the road, the more medieval the village feels. (You can
drive up via a long lane looping around the back of town.) A riverfront trail begins across
from Hôtel Bonnet at the eastern end of town and follows the river toward Castelnaud,
with great views back toward Beynac and—for able route-finders—a healthy one-hour
hiketoCastelnaud.Maketimetowalkatleastafewhundredyardsalongthistrailtoenjoy
the view to Beynac. For the best (and easiest) village view, walk downriver to the end of
the parking lot and climb the short wall—just try fitting it all in your camera's viewfinder.
For another commanding view, hike or drive to the town lookout, which overlooks
several castles and the river. Walk outside the village at the top (parking available), turn
right in front of the little cemetery, and walk uphill until the view opens up. Castelnaud's
castlehangsonthehillinthedistancestraightahead;ChâteaudeFayrac(ownedbyaTex-
an) is just right of the rail bridge in front of Castelnaud; it was originally constructed by
the lords of Castelnaud to keep a closer eye on the castle of Beynac. The Château de Mar-
queyssac,onahilltotheleft,wasbuiltbythebaronsofBeynactokeepaclosereyeonthe
boysatCastelnaud.MorethanathousandsuchcastleswereerectedintheDordognealone
during the Hundred Years' War.
Boat Trips
Boats leave from Beynac's riverside parking lot for relaxing, 50-minute river cruises to
Castelnaud and back (€7.50, nearly hourly, departures Easter-Oct daily 10:00-12:30 &
14:00-18:00, more frequent trips July-Aug, written English explanations, tel. 05 53 28 51
15).
Sleeping in Beynac
My favorite village on the river comes with some traffic noise.
$$ Hôtel du Château**,
on the river at Beynac's only (but busy) intersection,
provides mediocre rooms, most with queen-size beds. Some rooms have street noise,
though it's mitigated by air-conditioning (available in some rooms) and insulated win-
