The Chateau and its History

Different authenticated deeds mention the existence of the dwelling in 1431. The current manor, particularly through the configuration of its sloping flat-tile roofs, is very specific to the architecture from the early 15th century. However, after a fire broke out in the archives of Libourne, very little information remains about the dwelling. The current occupant’s family has owned it for 150 years.
The property is surrounded by high walls, which form a quadrilateral, the corners of which contain vestiges of round towers. One of the latter has enclosed, since 1864, a chapel. Protected by its rectangular enclosure, the two-storey main building, excluding the cellar and attic levels, is topped with a gabled flat-tile roof, with an inverted ship hull frame.
Adjacent to a square pavilion, which encloses a spiral staircase, a gatehouse from the 16th century, crowns the entrance gate in the courtyard, which overlooks the valley, defended by a brattice and its machicolation system. Once past the gatehouse, a large patio, facing fully south and shaded by a few lime trees, runs along the entire length of the chateau’s façade, which is cadenced by very large 18th-century windows and has developed a beautiful golden patina.
The interiors, pleasant and luminous, demonstrate a certain art de vivre, both refined and understated, and have largely conserved their overall elegance.

"The Battle of Castillon"

Since 1986, the re-enactment of this historical event represents the largest light and sound show in Aquitaine. Taking place two or three times per week, each re-enactment is attended by more than 2,000 spectators, between 15 July and 15 August. The re-enactment is performed over a scenic area of 7 hectares, on a sloping meadow located under the chateau’s patio. During the performance, the latter represents the ramparts of Castillon-la-Bataille during the famous last military combat of the Hundred Years War in 1453, at the end of which the English returned Aquitaine to the French.

A certified lease was signed on 2 December 2022 between the owners and the Castillon 1453 association, the main clauses of which are the following:
- Meadows and woods with a total size of 16.9 hectares.
- Length: the lease was concluded for a fixed duration of three years as of 1 January 2022, and will expire on 31 December 2024.
- Purpose: “the lessee will be able to use, convert or edify constructions (temporary ones only), solely under the context of the association’s activity, namely artistic and historical performances with, as their theme, the history of Castillon and its region.
The lessee will make sure to keep the trees, hedges and fences in good condition, clean the ditches and channels in accordance with local rules and customs and will generally, undertake all of the necessary clean-up work at their own expense.
The lessor will have the option to require the lessee (…) to return the subject of this lease to its original condition. However, exempted from this are: the ponds (…), the concrete foundations used as the base for light poles provided that these are not visible on the ground’s surface, adjustments to the land (…) and access routes”.
- Annual usage fee: €6,500, INSEE indexing.

The Outbuildings

Located at a distance from the chateau and at the entrance of the property, an old “tenant farmer’s” house, of approximately 200 m², benefits from a vast view of the valley. With two floors and an adjacent convertible barn, it is in good condition; however, a portion of its roof does require repair. It has been vacated since October 2023.
Preceding the entrance to the gatehouse, several outbuildings border an open courtyard, including former stables, a workshop, chapel, guards’ room, porch, a wooden wine storehouse, garage, offices and a building for the swimming pool’s technical equipment, located next to it.
5,500 m² of grounds, enclosed by low walls, extend between the chateau and the wine storehouse, which specifically includes a driveway bordered by horse chestnuts, magnolias and hornbeams.
The property is completed by a two-storey caretaker’s house in very good condition, and its own small private courtyard. With a surface area of approximately 150 m², it includes a living room, kitchen, shower room and two large rooms on the ground floor as well as three bedrooms and a shower room upstairs. Reversible air-conditioning has also been installed here.

The Vineyard

The estate has natural, slightly stony, clay-limestone soil. If it is impossible to determine the rootstocks used just by reading the documents provided, it seems that a large number of parcels, besides the most recently planted ones, have 420A or 41B rootstocks.
The trellising is mostly done using two guide wires and one or two pairs of lifters on acacia, or sometimes galvanised steel, stakes.
The vines are pruned primarily with the single guyot method, while a few vine stocks are pruned using the double guyot method.
Most of the parcels have favourable to very favourable exposure.

The Woods and Fields

The clay-limestone soil varies in depth; in areas, it is made up of broken down rocks or sandy clay.
The English oak is the main type of tree found over the approximately 26 hectares of woods on the estate, accompanied by other varieties like hornbeams or horse chestnuts. There are also downy oaks, typically found growing on limestone hillsides and the location of predilection for truffles.
A reforestation of maritime pines over 5.7 hectares of active limestone was undertaken, with lukewarm results. The Corsican pine, of equal quality, would be an advantageous replacement.
Black locusts occupy a surface area of 3.7 hectares, sometimes mixed with English oaks. The former, a very productive tree and quite sought out in a wine-growing environment for the production of wooden stakes, will require that their expansion be monitored in order to prevent them from becoming invasive.
Lastly, more or less wooded areas extend over approximately 13 hectares with a few poplars, but mostly junipers and English oaks; the planting of truffle oaks is also possible here – an option to be considered.