Château de Commarque, Medieval castle in Les Eyzies, France
Château de Commarque is a medieval fortress that rises from a rocky outcrop in the Beune valley with towers, dungeons, and defensive walls built over several centuries. Beneath and around the structure lie prehistoric caves and carved stone dwellings that show this location has been home to people for thousands of years.
Construction of the fortress began around 1200 and stretched across centuries as different generations added new sections and reinforced existing structures. By the 17th century residents had abandoned the building, which remained largely unused until it was purchased in 1972 and restoration work began.
The fortress has always been a working place where craftspeople shaped stone and maintained the buildings through the centuries. The walls still bear marks of daily labor and skills passed down through generations of inhabitants.
The site is best explored on foot, with narrow paths and stairs connecting different levels throughout the grounds, so sturdy shoes are recommended. Visitors should allow plenty of time as there is much to see, and exploring the surrounding area with nearby caves and rock shelters adds to the experience.
The prehistoric caves beneath the castle show traces of very early human settlement, thousands of years before the first stones were stacked to build the fortress above. Archaeologists have uncovered tools and artifacts here dating back many thousands of years.
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