A 17th-19th century chateau, outbuildings, grounds, swimming pool, tennis court
and vineyard, set in almost 9 hectares of land 1 hour from Bordeaux, between the sea and the Gironde river
and vineyard, set in almost 9 hectares of land 1 hour from Bordeaux, between the sea and the Gironde river
Bordeaux,
GIRONDE
aquitaine
33000
FR
Location
In the south-west of France, set among France's most renowned vineyards, the estate is less than 10 minutes from the Gironde river and just a quarter of an hour from the sea, close to the northern tip of the immense Landes forest. The surrounding villages with all essential shops are just a few minutes away. There is an airfield just 15 minutes away, yet the setting is calm and peaceful, in the middle of the Médoc regional nature park. It is the region with the best climate conditions in France, thanks to the dual influence of the ocean and the Gironde.
Description
Set in the middle of the Médoc vineyards, the estate consists of a 5-hectare rectangular island of greenery and almost 4 hectares of vines to the north.
The first part, which is entirely enclosed, has a service entrance to the south and a discreet main entrance with a driveway leading straight up to the chateau to the west. Not far from the vineyards, it is separated from the outbuilding by a moat.
With woods to the west, the gardens stretch east from the main building to the south, passing through a bamboo grove and a palm grove to reach a swimming pool and guest lodge. When you turn back to the south-west, a vast clearing bathed in light is surrounded by around 100 cedar trees. As it wasn’t created very long ago, the circular site is suitable for helicopter landings. The tennis court is located between the clearing and the woods.
The first part, which is entirely enclosed, has a service entrance to the south and a discreet main entrance with a driveway leading straight up to the chateau to the west. Not far from the vineyards, it is separated from the outbuilding by a moat.
With woods to the west, the gardens stretch east from the main building to the south, passing through a bamboo grove and a palm grove to reach a swimming pool and guest lodge. When you turn back to the south-west, a vast clearing bathed in light is surrounded by around 100 cedar trees. As it wasn’t created very long ago, the circular site is suitable for helicopter landings. The tennis court is located between the clearing and the woods.
The chateau
Invisible to the outside world, the main facade is highlighted by two slender, round, turret towers with turned-up eaves which flank the main entrance. There is a stone well a few metres to the south of the building. Its light blond ashlar facade contrasts with the slate roof set on modillions. It is surrounded by square bartizans at each corner. The hipped roof has high, spaced out gabled dormers carved with trefoils topped with crosses.
The rectangular chateau is three storeys high and faces east-west. The shutters match the roof colour. On the west side, the segmental-arched cross windows, built entirely out of ashlar, are topped with a projecting cornice. The eastern facade is fashioned out of rendered rubble stone. On this side, the eight window and door frames are made out of ashlar.
To the north, an outbuilding alongside the moat is set back at right-angles with an upstairs terrace at the end. The two-storey building has a terracotta tiled gable roof.
The ground floor
A large oak door opens onto a small lounge separated by a half wooden partition on each side. The large fireplace is made out of 19th century carved wood. The light-filled room, with its burgundy-red walls, is lit by the windows on the other side, to the east. To the right, as we walk just a few metres further along the stone floor and leaving the tower with its toilet and water supply point, is a large lounge facing east, south and west, with an ashlar fireplace to the north. A wall-mounted, arched bookcase frames the south-facing window, and the radiator screens beneath the windows contrast with the walls. The light-coloured ceiling is in French style, and the floor is made of old terracotta tiles set in oak wood lozenges. French windows open onto the terrace and gardens. To the left of the entrance, a few metres’ walk along the old stones lead to the tower and its stone staircase, and to the corridor leading to the east side. This is where we find the dining room with its wine-red walls. There is access to the terrace here. From here, an arched opening adorned with brickwork leads into the kitchen with its fireplace. High French windows open onto the terrace and gardens. To the north, a covered passageway marks the boundary between the main building and an older part, probably dating back to the time of the original building. The year 1636 is inscribed on the arched stones of the left-hand door, which opens first into a room used as a workshop, then into the air-conditioned wine cellar. The right-hand door leads to the boiler room, laundry room and linen room.
The first floor
The landing and the west-facing corridor lead to five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom with an antique vanity unit and toilet. They feature mouldings on the ceiling and sculpted fireplaces with overmantel mirrors. A small kitchen area has been set up in a tower. The colours are sober cream, which highlight the darker doors and windows. From this floor, the views over the garden and beyond to the natural area with its tall trees and fruit trees are breath-taking.
The second floor
This floor under the pointed roof has timber frames and oak panelling on every section of the roof, and is lit by high dormer windows. The landing leads to an entrance hall with a bedroom door which opens onto a large bathroom under the north hipped ceiling. Another door leads to a room between the two towers, which has been converted into a study, followed by a vast bedroom on the south-facing ridge with a bathroom in the second tower.
The outbuilding adjoining the castle
This is an extension of the utility rooms accessible from the chateau through the covered passageway. It is flanked by the moat a few metres to the north. The two-storey building has a low-pitched clay tile gable roof, with a small terrace at the east end.
The ground floor
An entrance near the covered passageway leads to the first floor. After the windows another French window leads through to the living room with its kitchen area, from which two doors lead to a small study and a bedroom with its own shower room and toilet.
The first floor
A vast area covering the entire outbuilding from east to west. There are many possibilities here including a video room to the east with an access to the terrace, and two studies to the west and north.
The guest lodge, swimming pool and palm grove
On the south side of the pool, the guest lodge, covered by a gable roof topped with canal tiles, is extended by a lean-to with a terracotta tiled floor running around the pool. Inside, a vast reception room links the kitchen, with its wooden olive colour units, and five bedrooms, each with its own en suite shower room and toilet.
Outbuildings
On the same side as the outbuilding which is next to the main building, there is a completely concealed carport to the west of the chateau, just a few metres from the entrances. To the east of the estate, there is a greenhouse protected by vegetation. To the south, in the woods, a small building is used as a workshop and a shed for the gardener.
Gardens and nature
The rectangle of greenery covers over 5 hectares and has a wooded area on the west side of the main entrance, which can be crossed by taking the driveway up to the chateau. After crossing the moat surrounded by lines of trees, the wood opens up to a clearing lined with palm trees. The moat forms a rectangle shape around the chateau, running alongside the vines to the north and the north-east corner, which also surrounds the kitchen garden and fruit trees. To the east of the chateau, surrounding the terrace, the garden is laid out in squares of rose bushes, butterfly lavender and other perennials, with a few large trees such as weeping willows and ash trees on the lawn area as far as the kitchen garden behind the dovecote. To the south-east, the 9 m x 20 m swimming pool and lodge are embellished by a palm grove. A path winds between the bamboo grove and the hills between the chateau and the palm grove. To the south of the chateau, a large clearing that could be used as a helipad is surrounded by around 100 cedar trees, beyond which, to the west, the tennis court forms the boundary with the wood.
Our opinion
"Living like God in France", as our neighbours in the Netherlands and Germany say, takes on its full meaning here in this chateau where elegance meets neo-Gothic style. The chateau is a rich blend of natural colours, a combination of the pale blond stone, the blue slate, the green surrounding vegetation and the red roses and flowers. The site is a veritable oasis of greenery and calm, sheltered from the outside world. The chateau and nature, protecting each other, are one and the same.
The chateau, with its exceptional location near to the sea, yet in the middle of the countryside, could be rented out for holidays, seminars and weddings, thanks to its capacity to sleep at least 30 people.
2 500 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 305393
| Land registry surface area | 8 ha 85 a 6 ca |
| Main building surface area | 670 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 14 |
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
