Monpazier © French Moments - Périgord 23

Last Updated: 3 March 2020

Monpazier is located in the Dordogne département in Aquitaine in southwest France. The village is listed as one of France’s most beautiful villages.


The bastide of Monpazier: A bit of history

Monpazier is considered the most typical example of a bastide in the South of France with its grid of streets and alleyways within its ramparts.

Fortified gate at the entrance to the bastide of Monpazier © French Moments
Fortified gate at the entrance to the bastide of Monpazier © French Moments

The foundations of bastides in southwestern France date back to the Hundred Years War between England and France. The new towns were fortified towns centred around a market square with houses built along narrow streets organised in a grid layout. As the bastides were mainly set up on frontier and disputed lands, its inhabitants needed to be protected from outside attack by ramparts.

The bastide of Monpazier shows perfect dimensions: a quadrilateral of 400 metres by 220 metres. The streets run parallel to the longest sides from one end of the bastide to the other. Four transversal streets divide Monpazier into rectangular blocks.

The houses were originally of the same size and separated from one another by narrow side alleys called “androns” to prevent the spread of fire.

Model of Place des Cornières, in Monpazier's Tourist Office Centre © French Moments
Model of Place des Cornières, in Monpazier’s Tourist Office Centre © French Moments

The bastide was founded in 1284 by Edward I, king of England with the assistance of Pierre de Gontaut, Lord of Biron. Monpazier became definitively French during the reign of King Charles V of France (1366-1380).

In 1574, during the Wars of Religion, the Huguenot captain, Geoffroi de Vivans seized Monpazier by treachery. In 1594 the bastide was one of the sites of the Peasant’s Revolt (la révolte des Croquants).

The coat of arms of the Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments
The coat of arms of the Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments

Remarkably, Monpazier has remained almost unchanged during its 700 years of existence despite the ravages of two great wars: the Hundred Years War and the Wars of Religions. However, only three of the original six fortified gates still stand. More than 30 buildings in Monpazier are listed as “Monuments Historiques” by the French state.

Map of Monpazier


Place des Cornières

Place des Cornières, bastide of Monpazier © French Moments
Place des Cornières © French Moments

Monpazier is famous for its central square “Place des Cornières” which is lined with medieval and 17th century houses whose ground floor form the arches of an arcade filled with shops.

Market hall, Place des Cornières, bastide of Monpazier © French Moments
Market hall, Place des Cornières © French Moments

On a square stands the intact 16th century covered market which still features some antique grain measures. Its timber roof frame is supported by wooden pillars which stands on blocks of stone.


St. Dominique Church

Façade of St. Dominique Church, bastide of Monpazier © French Moments
Façade of St. Dominique Church © French Moments

The parish church of Monpazier is devoted to St. Dominique. The Romanesque church was built in the 13th century. Its bell tower overlooks Place des Cornières. When building the bell tower, the façade needed a full restoration which included a small rose window and a gable.

Nave of St. Dominique Church, Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments
Nave of St. Dominique Church © French Moments

The interior of the church features fine vaulting whose support ribs meet at central bosses. The carved pulpit and canons seats behind the altar were added later.


Films shot in Monpazier

Place des Cornières, bastide of Monpazier © French Moments
Place des Cornières © French Moments

Monpazier has been often used as a medieval setting for French films: Le Capitan by André Hunebelle (1960) with Jean Marais and Bourvil, The Musketeer by Peter Hyams (2001) with Catherine Deneuve and Justin Chambers, Fanfan la Tulipe by Gérard Krawczyk (2002) with Vincent Perez and Penélope Cruz.

Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments Bastide of Monpazier © French Moments


 

Gems of Paris by French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

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