The castle was built in the 12th century and it was one of the castles in English possession during the War of Hundred Years. Right across the river, the equally remarkable castle of Castlenaud was in French possession.
After the War of Hundred Years the castle lost its strategic relevancy (like most medieval castles in the Dordogne region) and later modifications were made mostly in order to make it more comfortable for its inhabitants.
Due to its prominent position and authentic look, it was featured in numerous films, the most famous being "Jeanne d'Arc" (Dir: Luc Besson, 1999) and "The last Duel" (Dir: Ridley Scott, 2020).