Puymartin is a fairytale castle in the heart of the Périgord Noir, 7 km from the medieval town of Sarlat-La-Canéda and 15 km from Les Eyzies de Tayac. The castle stands out in a wooded area with its two imposing and symbolic towers.
In the 17th century, major decorative works helped to make the site as splendid and prestigious as it is today. These works included a room dedicated to Greek mythology, decorated with grisaille painting, which was classified by the Monuments Historiques in 1977 and is now a unique treasure in the Périgord.
In the 17th century, major decorative works helped to make the site as splendid and prestigious as it is today. These works included a room dedicated to Greek mythology, decorated with grisaille painting, which was classified by the Monuments Historiques in 1977 and is now a unique treasure in the Périgord.
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ReisenTranskript
00:00We drive on the country road to Sarla and see a castle or something hidden behind trees
00:18peeking out every now and then.
00:20Then there is the signpost that leads us to the castle of Pomartin, the castle of the
00:24White Lady.
00:37The construction of the castle sets off during the 13th century.
00:40In 1357 the castle becomes English property.
00:44The consuls of Sarlat buy the estate back from the English and abandon it later.
00:48Radolfi de Saint-Claire rebuilds the castle in 1450.
00:52In the 16th century, Raymond de Saint-Claire buys the castle and pushes back the Protestants.
00:58It is also him who gives Sarlat to the Huguenots under his warrior's name of Pomartin.
01:02During the 17th century, Jan de Saint-Claire and his sister Suzanne fight for 40 years
01:07over the ownership of the castle.
01:09Suzanne wins the dispute and eventually becomes the owner.
01:12The castle once again is abandoned in the 18th century.
01:27In the 19th century, the Marquis Marc de Campbell de Marzac, grandfather of the current owner,
01:32restores the castle in Gothic style, financed by the dowry of his wife.
01:56After the death of the owner in July 2002, the wife and children of Count Henri de Montferrand
02:01inherit the chateau in 2003, allowing the public to take a look at the family history.
02:12This includes the legends set in the 16th century when the lady of the house, Therese
02:16de Saint-Claire, is caught together with her lover by her husband, who unexpectedly returns
02:20early from the war.
02:22As her punishment, she is imprisoned in a small room of the north tower for 15 years
02:26and she was walled up there when she died during that time.
02:30Her ghost now can be seen at night wandering the castle's circular path as a white lady
02:33before returning to her room.
02:36Stupidly, we cannot wait long enough and have to believe what we were told, without being
02:40able to verify it.