Château de
Mondésir sits in a
green countryside of gently undulating hills where
traditionally mixed farming, which has totally disappeared in
so many areas, forms a landscape of vineyards, orchards,
pastures, fields of wheat and maize, forests, streams and
ponds.
The main body of the
château dates from the 17th century
but the four watchtowers of the original medieval fortress
which served as a lookout post for the « English » bastide of
Villefranche de Lonchat, founded by Edward 1st of England in
1285, still stand.
The 36 hectare
property includes
12 hectares
of vines which produce a Bergerac red wine acknowledged by the
‘Guide Hachette’ to be extremely good. The château and gardens
were built on a rocky outcrop (mont désert ? Forsaken Mount ?)
which affords a magnificent view over the surrounding
countryside.
Situated half-way between Bordeaux and Périgueux, half-way
between Libourne and Bergerac, 20km from St Emilion, and 8km
from Montaigne’s château, Château de Mondésir, which used to
belong to Montaigne’s great grand-daughter, provides an ideal
base from which to explore the vineyards of Aquitaine and the
Romanesque churches and other historical monuments of the
area. Set back from the main roads and away from the noise of
traffic, Mondésir is, nonetheless, only 10km from the new A89
motorway (exit Monpont Menestérol) and 2km from the Lac de
Gurson recreational park.
Text translated by Pays du Grand Bergeracois (professional translator).