Château de la Renaudie, Medieval castle in Saint-Front-la-Rivière, France.

Château de la Renaudie is a ruined stone castle south of Saint-Front-la-Rivière, near the hamlet of Béléterie and 200 metres from the D3 road. Its 15th-century logis was flanked by two round towers on the south side and a polygonal stair tower, now gone; only the jambs of two fireplaces and window mouldings survive. Rough grey and ochre masonry, jagged wall fragments and rectangular window openings rise among trees, with a rounded tower section still partly clad in ivy.

The castle stands on the foundations of a 13th-century castle, probably destroyed during the Hundred Years' War. The present building was rebuilt in the 15th century and belonged to the du Barry family from then on. In 1507 Alain d'Albret raised the fiefs of La Renaudie and Saint-Front-la-Rivière to the rank of châtellenie. After the French Revolution it was abandoned, partly burned and used as a stone quarry.

The name Renaudie passed through the du Barry family from the 15th century, then to the Sainte-Aulaire, Veyrinas and Des Cars families. Guy du Barry paid homage for the noble seat in April 1454, and in 1507 Alain d'Albret raised the fiefs of La Renaudie and Saint-Front-la-Rivière to the rank of châtellenie. François Des Cars, count, died at La Renaudie and was buried at Saint-Front-la-Rivière on 24 August 1661.

The castle is privately owned and normally closed to visitors throughout the year. However, you can view it during Heritage Days when special openings are arranged for the public.

The staircase tower has vanished: after the Revolution the abandoned castle was partly burned and quarried for stone, and that tower was dismantled. What remains of the 15th-century logis are the jambs of two fireplaces and window mouldings, best spotted in the standing wall fragments.