Fodor's Expert Review Château des Ducs d'Épernon

Overlooking the Garonne River in the very heart of town, Cadillac's château was built by the first Duke of Épernon (1554–1642) as a family seat befitting his wealth and influence. The duke's son fell afoul of Louis VIII when he refused a military assignment and was sentenced to death in absentia (he had already fled to England). Seized during the French Revolution, the Renaissance-style château served as a women's prison and psychiatric hospital until the 1950s. The stately home's lovely contours, ornate fireplaces, and 17th-century tapestries make it well worth a visit.