Who was Antoine d'Authon?

A sixteenth-century lord of the Bernardières, he left the château to pursue a maritime career, eventually commanding the Ottoman fleet under the name Barbarossa II, a position he held in 1546.

What architectural features are visible at the château?

The site combines a twelfth-century square keep, a decapitated round tower from the thirteenth century, a Henry II portal, Louis XIII balustrades, and a monumental staircase spanning a stream.

Château des Bernardières

Bernardières Castle

Mareuil en Périgord

Visit

Hours to be confirmed

Where: Mareuil en Périgord

Hours and prices not verified at the source yet.

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

Château des Bernardières stands in Mareuil en Périgord (Dordogne), in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 12th century, 17th century). Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

Standing on the Bernardières rock near Mareuil en Périgord, this twelfth-century château retains evidence of its military origins and successive transformations. A round tower from the thirteenth century and a square keep from the twelfth century form the ancient core, completed by Renaissance additions and Louis XIII balustrades. The site also preserves the memory of Antoine d'Authon, its former lord who became an Ottoman admiral under the name Barbarossa II.

What to know

The château has been listed as a historical monument since 2016, including the main residence, outbuildings, garden with canal, and hydraulic system.
Only the château and its immediate grounds are protected; the site is not managed as a standard tourist attraction with regular hours or admission fees.
Access and visiting conditions are not specified in available information; prior verification is recommended.

Where this château is

Mareuil en Périgord · Dordogne · Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Map of the area around Château des Bernardières

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

103 Bernardières, 24340 Mareuil en Périgord

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA00082467
Period of construction: 12th century, 17th century

Itineraries

Frequently asked

Who was Antoine d'Authon?: A sixteenth-century lord of the Bernardières, he left the château to pursue a maritime career, eventually commanding the Ottoman fleet under the name Barbarossa II, a position he held in 1546.
What architectural features are visible at the château?: The site combines a twelfth-century square keep, a decapitated round tower from the thirteenth century, a Henry II portal, Louis XIII balustrades, and a monumental staircase spanning a stream.