The 16thcentury Château de
Monbazillac is listed as an Historical Monument. Its unusual
architecture effortlessly combines a medieval, military style
with the early elegance of the Renaissance period.
The château is surrounded by an immense sea of vines and has a
magnificent, panoramic view of Bergerac, through which flows
the Dordogne River (made famous as the « Rivière d’Espérance,
» the ‘River of Hope’, by the writer, Christian Signol).
The château’s rooms house permanent exhibitions devoted to
local and regional history; many aspects of history are
recounted including, of course, that of vineyards and wine.
The Monbazillac
Wine Co-operative has owned the château since 1960 and, as its
patron, continues to add to its collections, carry out
renovations and open the château as much as possible to the
public. The vaulted cellars and alcoves, the first floor
bedrooms and nearly twenty furnished rooms are open to the
public all the year round.
Included in the price of a visit are exhibitions of vine and
wine; of local, Périgourdin furniture; of the history of
Protestantism and of Périgord’s one thousand and one chateaux.
The Visitor’s Centre also offers the
opportunity for tasting or buying the famous, sweet Monbazillac
dessert wine (as well as other local wines such as Bergerac or
Pécharment).
