The Château de Monbazillac and its vineyards
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The Château de Monbazillac and its vineyards, a listed historic site
The Château de Monbazillac has been owned by ‘La Cave de Monbazillac’ wine producers since 1960. It is a unique and original architectural blend of medieval defensive fortifications and Renaissance exuberance. The castle has remained unchanged since the late-16th century, whereas the renown of its quality wines quickly spread far beyond the borders of Aquitaine.
The main characteristic of Monbazillac land is its propensity for ‘noble rot’ caused by the microscopic fungus, Botrytis cinerea, which miraculously transforms the grapes during late autumn warmth to produce the famous sweet white wines. After the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Monbazillac, famed throughout the 17th century, benefitted from the exodus of French Protestants to Holland where they became enthusiastic promoters of the sweet white wines which the Dutch adored.
The castle is located at Monbazillac overlooking the Dordogne Valley and the town of Bergerac. Four hundred years on, Monbazillac still enjoys the same excellent reputation, thanks to the expertise of its wine-growers combined with scientific involvement in forging the quality of its great vintages.
Visiting the Château de Monbazillac is in three parts : 17th century furniture, artists and the wine cellars
On the ground floor, the grand salon and main reception room of the castle has a ceiling ‘à la Française’, a Renaissance-style fireplace and a magnificent herringbone parquet floor in oak, pine and cherry wood, while the small salon has Périgord furniture from the 17th century. Other rooms are devoted to traditional trades and crafts linked to wine-growing and the wine trade, engravings and archives relating to the Wars of Religion
The 1st floor has the dining room of the tragedian actor Mounet-Sully (1841-1916), engravings by the German painter and engraver Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), original etchings and drawings by the Périgord cartoonist Sem (1863-1934). The largest room on the first floor is regularly used for exhibitions by contemporary artists and the room known as the Bedchamber of the Viscountess has some fine 16th and 17th century furniture.
In the wine cellars, a wall of 6,000 bottles of golden Monbazillac illustrates the region’s glorious past. The 16th century, vaulted kitchens have a rammed earth floor, fireplaces, bread oven, well, sink, fruit store and 18th and 19th century kitchen utensils typical of south-west France. The wine museum has objects and tools used in wine-growing and a permanent exhibition of 9 information boards recounting the history of wine, the farming calendar and the history of Cave de Monbazillac, the firm that owns the property.
You are free to visit the different rooms of the castle. Guided tours are available in July and August. Free wine tasting session at the end of the visit. Walk around the estate. Vineyard tour. Free shady car park, food outlet and shops.
Dordogne is reputed to have 1,001 châteaux or castles including Château de Castelnaud, Château de Beynac, Château de Hautefort and Château de Biron."+
