La Borie Grande: Home page La Chataignier Le Tournesol Outdoors Location map Terms & Conditions Contact us Links to other sites The Dordogne: Bastide towns Villefranche du Perigord Monpazier Les Eyzies Domme La Borie Grande, 24550 Villefranche du Perigord, France. Tel: 0033 (0)553 302852 Copyright © Tracy Scott.

Bastides - Medieval Towns A new concept in the XIIIc, the bastides were essentially built to promote business. The market place is the focus of each bastide, rather than the church or chateau as had been the rule. The covered arcades around the market place were a novelty to attract the new citizens into the bastides, and an important favour was granted: the permission to hold a market. Bastides were not designed for defence though many are on hilltops. Others though, like Eymet and Lalinde, are laid out in valleys. Often an English-held bastide was mirrored by a French one on the other side of the line. Thus the English-held Monpazier was opposed by the French Villefranche du Perigord.