Monpazier facts for kids

The main square of Monpazier, with its covered walkways called arcades.

A lively flower market happening in the main square.

Monpazier is a charming village located in the country of France. It is found in a part of France called the Dordogne department, which is in the larger region of Aquitaine. In 1999, about 516 people lived there. Monpazier is so special that it has been named one of the most beautiful villages in France by a group called Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.

This village was built in a special way, known as a bastide. A bastide is a planned town, usually built in the Middle Ages, with a very organized layout. For a time, important historical figures like Eleanor of Aquitaine, a powerful queen, and Richard III, a king of England, lived here.

History of Monpazier

Monpazier was founded by Edward I of England in the year 1284. He was a king of England who also ruled parts of France at that time. The town was designed with a very clear, rectangular shape. All the streets and buildings were planned around a central main square. This design made it easy to defend and organize.

Location and Surroundings

Monpazier is located almost exactly halfway between two other well-known French cities: Bergerac and Sarlat-la-Canéda. Each of these cities is about 45 kilometers (about 28 miles) away. A small river called the River Dropt also flows through the village.

Images for kids

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  The Church of St Dominique. This view shows its west side, seen through one of the special corner openings of the main square.