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View propertyChâteau · Dordogne Valley
Château des Milandes
A Renaissance château that was home to Joséphine Baker, with gardens and a falconry display.
The Château des Milandes stands in parkland above the Dordogne near Castelnaud. It was built at the end of the fifteenth century as a comfortable residence rather than a fortress, and it is best known today as the home of the singer, dancer and Resistance figure Josephine Baker.
The visit tells her story in the rooms where she lived, alongside the gardens and a birds of prey display. It is a very different visit from the fortresses of the valley and appeals to people who would not normally choose a castle.
Where to stay- Area
- Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Dordogne Valley, Périgord Noir
- Type of visit
- Furnished château, gardens and bird display
- Best known for
- Josephine Baker's home
- Time to allow
- Two to three hours
- Commune
- Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
- Combines well with
- Castelnaud, Beynac, Belvès, Marqueyssac
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Where to stay near Château des Milandes
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Sarlat-la-Canéda · 13 km away
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From Renaissance residence to Josephine Baker
The château was built around 1489 by François de Caumont, lord of Castelnaud, reportedly at the wish of his wife, who wanted something more comfortable than the fortress across the hill. Its towers, mullioned windows and carved stonework mark the move from medieval castle to Renaissance home.
Josephine Baker discovered Les Milandes in the 1930s and later bought it. During the Second World War she worked for the French Resistance, and after the war she made the château her home and raised the twelve children she adopted from around the world, whom she called her Rainbow Tribe.
Her ambitions for the estate brought her into debt, and she was forced to leave in 1969. In 2021 she entered the Panthéon in Paris, one of very few women to receive that honour.
Inside the château
The rooms are arranged around Josephine Baker's life: her stage career in Paris, her Resistance work, her civil rights campaigning and family life at Les Milandes.
- Stage costumes
- Dresses and costumes from her performances, displayed in the rooms.
- Family rooms
- Bedrooms and living rooms as they were in her time, including her Art Deco bathrooms.
- Resistance and honours
- Displays on her wartime work and the decorations she received.
- Photographs and film
- Archive images and footage of her career and of life at the château.
The gardens and the birds of prey
The château is surrounded by formal French gardens and terraces looking over the valley. A short walk through the park gives views of the building from below.
A birds of prey display takes place in the grounds in season, with falconers flying owls, falcons and eagles. It is a highlight for children, and the timing of the shows is worth checking when you plan your visit.
Eating at Les Milandes
The Brasserie du Château inside the grounds serves lunch with a terrace in the gardens, so you can make a half day of it without leaving the estate. Opening depends on the season.
Otherwise, the villages of the valley, from Castelnaud to Beynac and Saint-Cyprien, offer plenty of choice a short drive away.
Planning your visit
The château has a car park close to the entrance. Check current parking and ticket arrangements on the official site.
Opening times change through the year and the château closes for part of the winter. Check before you travel, especially in spring and autumn.
The gardens are fairly easy to walk, but the château has stairs between floors. Check accessibility details with the château if this matters to your group.
What to combine with Les Milandes
Castelnaud is the natural partner: the fortress and its museum of medieval warfare make a strong contrast with the Renaissance comfort of Les Milandes, and it is only a few kilometres away.
To the south, the hilltop village of Belvès makes a fine afternoon. Beynac and Marqueyssac are also within easy reach for a full castles and gardens day.
Château and museum · Dordogne Valley
Château de Castelnaud
A medieval fortress on the south bank of the Dordogne, home to a museum of medieval warfare.
Village · Dordogne Valley
Beynac-et-Cazenac
A riverside village climbing steeply to a castle on the cliff above the Dordogne.
Hilltop village · Périgord Noir
Belvès
A hilltop village of towers and medieval lanes, listed among the most beautiful villages of France.
Questions about Château des Milandes
Who lived at the Château des Milandes?
It was built for the lords of Castelnaud in the late fifteenth century and later became the home of Josephine Baker, who raised her twelve adopted children there.
How long does a visit to Les Milandes take?
Allow two to three hours for the rooms, the gardens and a birds of prey display.
Is the Château des Milandes good for children?
Yes. The birds of prey display is popular with children, and the gardens give them space to run around.
Is there somewhere to eat at Les Milandes?
Yes. The Brasserie du Château in the grounds serves lunch in season.
How far is Les Milandes from Castelnaud?
Only a few kilometres, so the two are easy to combine in a single day.
Opening times, prices and parking change. Check before you travel: Château des Milandes, Sarlat-Périgord Noir tourist office.