Built at the foot of the château, the village has first developed slowly; its real birth dates back to the 18th century, when Marquis Jacques-François de Hautefort transformed the old castle to make it a jewel of the classic-Renaissance architecture.
The Marquis also erected a home to host all the poor people and give them some education; this also probably contributed to the development of the village..

Ever since antiquity the site of Hautefort has always drawn warriors.
The ancient fortress dates back to the early middle ages, as proved by the first document quoting its existence as early as 987. It is described as an "ever existing" big and "unassailable" fortress!

A house of Gouffier de Lastours, who won fame during the first Crusade, the chateau then became the seigneurial home of the famous troubadour Bertran de Born, whose pranks, temper and "sirventès" (songs) brought him all sorts of mishaps. Dante immortalized Bertran in the "Divine Comedy" depicting him roaming in Hell with his head in his hand.

* hiking paths,
* hiking paths with sets of themes,
* evening animations,
* "Tales" days,
* "farm to farm" hiking,
* "Pays d'Ans" festival
* evening markets,
* open-air cinema and theatre,
* medieval days,
* craftsmen and shops,
* professional weaving workshops,
* Château de Hautefort, its park and gardens "à la française" (listed)
* riding center,
* the 18th-century home for the poor
* the Museum of the History of Medecine,
* restaurants,
* rides (poneys),
* regional produce,
* the "Coucou" lake,
* campings,
* accomodation facilities (self-catering, B&Bs, etc.)
* etc.

Later on Baron Maxence de Damas greatly helped to create close relationships with the local people. He used to organize a party each year and invite all the inhabitants of the village and make them wonderful presents.
Nowadays, the Hautefort inhabitants are still very much attached to their chateau and to their local history.
During the French Revolution, the inhabitants of a neighbouring village formed a militia to go and destroy Hautefort, a criminal plot which the Hautefort inhabitants heard of: they casted all the bronze and copper items, manufactured weapons and opposed the assailants.
More recently, in 1968, when a huge fire destroyed the chateau, all the inhabitants showed an incredible solidarity and generosity to Baronne de Bastard, thus proving their unfailing attachement to the chateau.

One of Hautefort' main characteristics is its predisposition to give birth to and welcome men of Culture, artists, poets or writers.
Some places live a rich past and one day go back to anonymity. History in Hautefort has never ceased being very vivid. From the middle ages to nowadays, from Bertran de Born to Eugène Le Roy, Hautefort day by day keeps building up a rich History!