he building of the present chateau seems to have started in the 16th century (and ended in the 17th century) to faithfully reproduce
the former castle. Its plan is rectangular: the main house bears two major towers on its Eastern side; the other facade bears two small corbelled towers.
Puyferrat retains its arquebus holes. A rare total covered way makes it possible to discover an amazing panorama onto the countryside. The roof is a 4-sided roof covered with
flat tiles; its stunning wood framework was listed a historical monument in 1860. The chateau has 4 levels: the cellars, of which one was a kitchen, a groundfloor offering
a main room with a beautiful "pisée" (floor made of cobble stones, very typical in the Perigord), a first and second floors (monumental stairs with huge landings). A chapel
was erected in 1825; it hosts the family vault.
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uyferrat is located on top of a hill overlooking the plain of Saint-Astier. In its woods and forests, you'll probably have the opportunity to admire wild pigs and deers, all living
in harmony. As a matter of fact, the place has been inhabited since the Roman era. Remains of a "hypocauste" (Roman heating system), a water tank and several underground refuges
have been found. A monk named Astier, once came to settle in a cave nearby; in the 11th century a Benedictine monastery was then erected there. At that time (and up to the 16th century),
the Perigord used to be devastated by the successive wars between the King of England and the King of France.
In 1550, Bertrand de la Porte, who had renovated Puyferrat, was living there peacefully. In January 1591, during the French War of Religions,
Puyferrat was besieged by the protestants. Bertrand de la Porte won; in 1595, his son Charles got married to Louise de Grimoard. They had a son, called Jean.
His great-great-grand-son, Jean-Jacques, was born in Puyferrat in 1749. He has married Marie-Anne-Agathe de Lee, the daughter of a Martinique colonist;
the young couple has inherited the Puyferrat and the Martinique domains.
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n February 22 1792, Jean-Jacques, his wife and kids took on board the "La Grande Terre".
After a difficult journey, the boat landed on April 12 to La Trinité (Martinique). The family was safe and well, but was considered here in the Perigord as migrants. All properties
were thus sequestered by the French authorities. As the Martinique was already a French colony, Jean-Jacques rapidly recovered all of them, but he was compelled to send every three months
a certificate of residence to the local Directorate. When the island was invaded by the English, Jean-Jacques could no longer send the certificate: Puyferrat became a national
property in 1794, it was emptied, and all furniture was sold.
In 1803, the Sérigny family purchased the chateau and the domain attached to it.
The Sérignys sold it in 1824 to Paul-François Dupont. The descendants of Jean-Jacques de La Porte unsuccessfully tried to get back Puyferrat.
In the beginning of the 20th century, the Maréchal family purchased the chateau; the Maréchals stayed in Puyferrat up to 1960. The property now belongs to a family
stemming from Montpon-Mussidan.
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Guided tour with the owner
Duration of the tour: 45 minutes
Adults: 5 euros
free under 16
Opening times:
July, August, September: Tuesdays / Wednesdays / Thursdays and Fridays: 10.00-12.00 a.m. and 02.00-06.00 p.m. (week-ends upon reservation)
October to June: upon reservation only
Rental of rooms (weddings, lunchs, seminars - up to 120 persons)
Feel free to ask us
Should you wish to stay a little longer in the region, Chateau de Puyferrat welcomes
you as its hosts(click here for more)
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