A listed 13th-century chateau to be fully restored, with grounds, a chapel and outbuildings, nestled in France's Lot-et-Garonne department where it ov
A listed 13th-century chateau to be fully restored, with grounds, a chapel and outbuildings, nestled in France's Lot-et-Garonne department where it overlooks the River Garonne valley.
The chateau stands in the south of France's Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, in the middle of the Lot-et-Garonne department. It is only an hour from Bordeaux airport and 1 hour and 30 minutes from Toulouse airport via the A62 motorway. From the property, you can easily get to a high-speed train station, where you can reach Paris in around three hours by rail. The Renaissance edifice, with origins dating back to the 13th century, lies in the heart of the Buzet winegrowing area with its protected label of origin and looks out over the River Garonne valley. It is located within a triangle formed by the towns of Marmande, Agen and Nérac, near Casteljaloux, a famous spa town with a golf course, a casino, a large leisure park and a 17-hectare lake. The Buzet winegrowing area, between the River Garonne and the Landes forest, is a beautiful natural region with rare authenticity.
Towering upon a rocky hill that looks down at the valley, the chateau was once surrounded by an ancestral vineyard. The majestic edifice illustrates the rich past of Gascony. The original chateau was built by the counts of Gascony. It has survived over the centuries and notably withstood the French Wars of Religion. Today's elegant, symmetrically designed edifice dates back to the French Renaissance (around the year 1500). It has kept significant medieval remnants, including towers, arrow slits and other defensive features from the 15th century. Two wings were added in the 17th and 19th centuries by the Grossolles de Flamarens family and by Alfred de Noailles, before being destroyed in the 1960s. All the estate's buildings and remnants have walls that are mostly made of stone. Their roofs have slate or barrel tiles. Part of the chateau has been regionally listed as a historical monument since 1989 and nationally listed as a historical monument since 1991. This bears witness to the chateau's true value as a gem of built heritage. The listed parts are the elevations, roofs, fireplaces and architectural remnants in the grounds, as well as the painted ceilings of the bedrooms on the first floor. Today, the chateau requires large-scale restoration. A specific French tax scheme applies to this property as a protected historical monument. Certain expenses on the protected parts (including renovation work, loan interest, property tax and insurance) are tax deductible, within up to 50% of taxable income. These expenses are deductible from property income.
The chateauThe southern elevation is centred on a 16th-century octagonal tower. This tower houses a remarkable spiral staircase that connects to the edifice's four main levels. Each level has the same layout: four spacious main rooms and their antechambers. Two vast 17th-century terraces edged with stone balusters frame the chateau. With their low walls and steps, each one forms a protective space with a refined appearance, overlooking the valley and grounds. The south-facing facade is punctuated with 16 windows, most of which are rectangular, small-paned and fitted with indoor shutters. The northern elevation has a front flight of steps and stone balconies with 17th-century wrought-iron balustrades. All the slate roofs and timber roof frames were recently renovated entirely. The structures have been strengthened, the window frames revamped and a forced-air heating system kept on all floors. An alarm system also ensures the site remains safe.
The base level
The basement dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries. It houses vast vaulted cellars that extend beneath almost the whole chateau. You reach the basement via the chateau's main spiral staircase, as well as a subtly hidden staircase that leads to ...
