Lead role in a battle

With this chateau, we dive into France's troubled history. Back to the late Middle Ages, the Hundred Years' War. Peasant daughter Joan of Arc, after a vision, encourages French leaders to fight for their country against English forces. This leads to several successful battles, in which she takes up arms herself. Yet the girl ends up burned at the stake, on 30 May 1431 in Rouen. Officially because she is a heretic wearing men's clothes, but in fact she is a plaything of both countries. France eventually wins the war in 1453, though.
Text: Marjolein Schuman | Image: Vineyards Bordeaux

 

What: estate of 112 hectares, including 25 hectares of vineyard

Where: AOC CÔTES DE BORDEAUX

How much: € 5.538.000

Historical monument

On the meadow near this chateau, which was already there in that 15th century, a famous battle from the Hundred Years' War, which led to the liberation of Aquitaine, has been re-enacted on summer evenings for 40 years. It attracts thousands of visitors. In the show, the beautifully lit castle represents the old city wall. As a castle owner, by the way, you can tell even more exciting stories about the historic region of Aquitaine, of which Bordeaux is the capital. Uhm, as a castle owner? Yes, because it is for sale, the estate agent informed us. What you get in terms of land, living space and vineyards we can probably tell you briefly. There are 30 rooms on 823 square metres of living space. The interior reflects the site's history with its stone floors, high ceilings and original features perfectly preserved, such as a stone fireplace. The huge 'garden' has meadows, woods, a park and a vineyard all in one block.

Dusty blackberry aromas

It involves some 25 hectares of AOC Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux. This is a 'satellite appellation' of Saint-Émilion, as the vines share the famous limestone plateau. The average age of the vines is 30 years, and we are talking 75 per cent merlot, 23 per cent cabernet-franc and 2 per cent cabernet-sauvignon. The huge winery is fully equipped with six 150-hectolitre stainless steel vats and temperature-regulated epoxy-coated cement vats to make top-quality Bordeaux. Wine Enthusiast judged earlier that the wines are rich and concentrated, with dusty aromas of blackberries contrasting with the dry body. Wines that can age well, like the new chateau owner here in France.

 

Cooling

Finally, there is a tennis court and a swimming pool, and we would have liked Jeanne d'Arc to do the same. Her name has been restored, though. Thanks in part to her mother, she was canonised and is now France's national heroine. Her memorial day is celebrated on 30 May, feel free to grab a glass of red.


More stories about this chateau, or want to make an offer? Check out the estate agent's website VINEYARDSBORDEAUX.COM or call +33 (0)5 57 84 81 88.

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