Le chateau des Milandes: the former residence of Josephine Baker

Chateau des Milandes is in the middle of the Dordogne valley, surrounded by a few houses, a cathedral and many fields, hills and lush greenery.  

 The castle was first built in 1489

By François de Caumont, lord of Castelnaud to please his wife who preferred to live in a romantic castle rather than in the feudal fortress of Castelnaud.

After the death of the death of the last owner, a descendant of François de Caumont, the castle was more or less left in a state of neglect until the 1900.  At that time a rich industrialist bought the castle and made many alterations to the interior and the façade by adding gothic style carvings and gargoyles.

He also planted magnolia trees which were fashionable then.

It was not until 1937, during a visit to the Périgord area that Josephine Baker saw the castle, fell in love with it and rented it then purchased it in 1947. The castle is now a museum to display outfits and memorabilia of the famous singer.

Only two years after purchasing the chateau, Ms Baker became the owner of almost the whole village and called it Le Village Du Monde.