la forteresse du faucon noir

Visited during the 8 weeks during the summer when various craft activities and demonstrations were on. A blacksmiths, potter, candle maker, potter etc of which most you could join in.My ten year old was kept busy for around 4 hours.Excellent value.

Man from Holland.We went to the fortress. We found a recreation of Mediëval times. People dressed in medieval clothing are recreation crafts. With coins you can participate in activities., like candelmaking, Weaving and the making of a purse or braselet.As a treat, three Knights did battle.It was great.

Our family of four stopped for the evening in Montbazon on our way from Paris to the Dordogne, and this was our activity. We enjoyed it. We arrived late - about 5:30 PM, rather close to the 7 PM closing time. The ticket lady graciously wrote a note on our admission tickets advising her colleague to let us in the next morning if we didn't see everything. There used to be a great fortress of the Black Knight here but now there's not much more than a ruined keep. So there's not that much to see, but they make up for it by having a lot to do. There are all kinds of "medieval" activities like making candles, working leather and straw, and minting coins. The kids loved playing with the swords and shields, and enjoyed the awesome catapult exhibition and the crossbow lesson. We caught the tail end of the tour to the underground "torture chamber," which seemed a bit more whimsical than strictly historical. Overall, we found the medieval re-enactors super-friendly and helpful and enjoyed the experience. We didn't wind up going back the next morning because we felt we had seen everything and the weather was raw and rainy, but would definitely recommend this activity for families with children in the area.

The Fortress was a stronghold of the Count of d'Anjou Faulk III Nerra, also called "The Black Hawk". It is the oldest dungeon fortress in France dating back to 991. The massive tower is 90ft high with 9ft thick walls. It had a cellar and 3 floors. The entrance was 20ft off the ground and access required a ramp or ladder. It was surrounded by stone walls & ramparts. The "Black Hawk" was on of the greatest feudal lords in this area. A great warrior fighting most of the time. In between all this fighting,he was able to built over 50 castles, abbeys & churches during his long life. He also participated and survived a four Crusades to Jerusalem.

Had our own english speaking guide.Our girls could make candles,leather brackets,money bags,wicker fish,clay pot,dungeon tour,castle tour and catapult display.An excellant day out for a good price

As a mature couple we were able to wander around quickly as did not participate in any of various activities.What made the entrance fee worth paying was the tour of the keep and the tour of the dungeon.Would have liked an English guide either paper or person as the wonderful French guide spoke a little too quickly for our limited French.There are information boards in English at certain parts and these are very informative.Overall presents a good picture of life in the earlier times.

The French have gone to great lengths to praise the English aristocrat who 'saved' the fort for posterity, all I can say is the National Trust would have a fit. The Fort has been recreated as a Medieval village where you can take part in various crafts and activities using 'medieval coins' to buy these. There is an interesting selection of weaponry and a good view of the town but unless you have children under 10 this does not provide sufficient diversion to warrant the expensive entry fee.

a definite "must do"... the dungeons and the torture chamber are amazing. There is an actual "rack" ... and jail cells. The younger ones can make candles, leather work, and watch a blacksmith forge a sword. There are real Trebuchets to look at and other weapons as well, including a cross bow that they can shoot.

The keep of Montbazon castle was built from 991 onward by Foulque III Nerra, count of Anjou.His son added the little keep in 1050.King Henry II of England ordered the construction of a first enclosure in 1175.King Philip August of France added a second enclosure and round towers from 1205 onward.Around 1425 sumptuous new living quarters arose within the second enclosure, opposite the old fortress. Alas, after glory came downfall :The new palace was demolished in 1746 and its rubble was used to consolidate the Route d’Espagne (the present N 10).Lack of maintenance caused the floors of keep and little keep to collapse in 1791. The top of the keep was maimed by the installation of a statue of the virgin Marie in 1866.Since 1922 the ruins have been consolidated and the site is being revalued. During july and august nocturnal visits are organized every Friday and Saturday evening.We participated in one such visit.The whole site was lit in a very atmospheric way by means of firepots and torches.We were welcomed at the gate by a hunchback in rags. Amidst the ruins four kings provided information about the history of the site and about their lives in a colorful and witty way. Even though the keep has been lowered 8m (originally he measured 36m in height) and its groundfloor is filled with debris he still looks very impressive. The remains allow you to picture what the fortress must have looked like in its heyday.The tour ends with a double highlight : a fire show and the firing of a catapult. A must see !Afterwards visitors are invited to a enjoy cup of wine (or fruit juice) and toast with local cheese or paté. I spoke with several of the friendly and helpful staff members. I understood that they are enthusiastic volunteers with a passion for history and for their fortress. They deserve all praise for their exemplary maintenance of the site and the great evening they provided to us.

Be warned that to take advantage of most of what this fortress has to offer you have to go during the summer months. This year they had a focus on medieval occupations (tanner, herbalist, potter, etc.) It really is an authentic experience - all the cast are dressed in proper medieval garb, and even the "tavern" serves medieval bread (called Fouee) which is cooked in a proper stone oven. There were crossbow lessons,, a guided tour with a fiery red-headed medieval warrior who takes you underground to visit a torture chamber and even fires a trebuchet at the end of the tour. A good touch to the day was that you're given medieval coins upon entering and you can use these to buy small items, such as a leather bracelet that you make yourself (or if you're lazy, the person in charge of the speciality will make it for you), so if you have kids, you can let them learn calligraphy, make leather accessories (purses, bracelets,etc.) or even make a small fan at the basket weaving stand. It looks small upon entering, but you can easily spend 3 hours at the fortress.

Un conteur génial, des activités pour les enfants de tous âges, un accueil chaleureux ... à refaire sans hésiter

Très bon moment passé à la Forteresse du Faucon Noir où nous avons assisté à des tournois, duels et joutes par équipes mémorables. Petits stands artisanat moyen age très instructifs pour les enfants et les grands,

Un lieu qui projette le visiteur au moyen age, grace aux jeunes animateurs qui commentent les differents ateliers, les costumes qui nous plongent a l epoque, avec humour, le diner est original. Un moment hors du temps

Донжон - то немногое, что осталось от замка XI века в городке Монбазон. К сожалению, замок открыт для посещения только летом, поэтому пришлось довольствоваться лишь внешним осмотром. В конце XIX века донжон был увенчан 10-ти метровой статуей Мадонны с Младенцем.

Nous avons adoré l immersion dans le 10iem siecle les enfants ont découvert pleins d activités et sont repartis avec leurs créations et comme dirai mon fils de 7 ans c était trop cool Félicitations et si vous etes dans la région n hesitez pas à y aller c est génial merci