I inherited this property from my grandmother, who received it as a wedding present from her second husband. The château is in the Sainte-Foy-La-Grande region, where she grew up with very little. It was like a homecoming for her, but it also made up for her difficult childhood. I spent a lot of my school holidays here playing knights in the château and grounds, and today our three daugh-ters are the property’s new princesses.
The château is made up of elements dating from different eras. The entrance is watched over by an 11th-century postern tower known as "le Castelet". There is also a main building dating from the 11th-12th centuries, surrounded by three towers: a round dungeon, a square tower housing a beautifully crafted stone spiral staircase still in perfect condition, and another tower whose south-ern section forms a sharp angle in the shape of a ship's bow. Between these three towers there is a main building located below ground level. It is flanked by flying buttresses and most certainly overlooked a moat that has since been filled in. It contains a monumental fireplace dating from the 11th-12th centuries. A lean-to building was added to the west side in the 18th century, housing a 70 m2 living room on the ground floor and two living rooms on the first floor.
In the 13th century, the village of Eynesse was called Enassa. There is already mention of this châ-teau at that time. It was probably owned by the Order of Malta, which, from the Middle Ages on-wards, shared the territory of Eynesse with the local lords, in particular a certain Jacques, Lord of Barrail. The lord of Barrail had toll rights on the Dordogne and the right to build dams.
The château is surrounded by five hectares of parkland and 17 hectares of forest, home to roe deer, wild boar and a host of sedentary and migratory birds. All around, the vineyards of the Côtes de Saint-Foy stretch as far as the eye can see, and tastings can be arranged with our local wine-maker friends. A large, sunny south-facing terrace overlooks the hillside and forest. On the west side, it overlooks the large meadow and the magnificent sunsets. As the château has been lived in for over 40 years, it is perfectly furnished and decorated with historical items (furniture, paintings, silverware, etc.), making the experience of being a châtelain even more realistic. Four bicycles are available for our guests to ride through the vineyards. The large, south-facing swimming pool is divided into sunny and shaded areas.
Just a few hundred metres away is the Dordogne, where you can enjoy canoeing and kayaking in the company of swans. Every Saturday, the market in St-Foy-La-Grande brings the streets and al-leys of the bastide to life. Bike over to the small Sunday morning market in the village of Eynesse, two kilometres away, and enjoy an aperitif with the mayor and villagers while sampling local wines and oysters from the Arcachon Basin. In Castillon-La-Bataille, watch the re-enactment of the fa-mous battle organised every summer by the villagers. The Château de Montaigne, a 14th-century stronghold and the family home of Renaissance philosopher and thinker Michel de Montaigne is a mere 15 minutes away. There is Château Monbazillac in the midst of the vineyards, renowned for the unique quality of its wines and the beauty of its setting.
The château can host receptions and weddings. Its five hectares of land can accommodate several marquees. Guests have access to the entire property - the grounds and the swimming pool and the Castelet, where the bride, groom and parents can stay. In addition to the five bedrooms in the château, there is a 13-bedroom property across the road. The adjoining meadow can be used for parking and can also accommodate tents or a temporary village if need be. Activities in the surrounding area (kayaking, markets, visits to wineries and châ-teaux, etc.) are perfect for keeping guests occupied before or after the wedding. A méchoui (lamb spit-roast) can be organised on the hillside the day after the wedding.
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