A little village by the name of Monbazillac may be found in the Dordogne region of France, just a few kilometers south of Bergerac. The village is charming, despite the fact that it is rather small, but it probably wouldn’t be recognized if it weren’t for the impressive Chateau de Monbazillac that is located on the outskirts of the village and the well-known wines that are produced here.
Exploring Monbazillac
Apart from the church in the middle of the village, you will find a tourist office and a Maison des Vins and a few dwellings, but very little else. It is probably more correct to define Monbazillac itself as a hamlet.
Chateau de Monbazillac
The castle can be found on the outskirts of the village to the north. There is a large parking lot in the woods, which are quite lovely and offer plenty of space for having a picnic, and the castle can be reached by walking down a long, straight path that has vineyards and plants growing along both sides of the path.
The renaissance architecture of the castle dates back to the 16th century when it was built. In point of fact, it is more reminiscent of the castles that can be found in the Loire Valley rather than the castles that can be found in the Dordogne department, which are often much older and have a very obvious military function.
However, the numerous windows with attractive stone surrounds as well as a roof that is very typical of houses in the region are decorative in design rather than having a military purpose. The round towers that are located on each side of the castle serve as a reminder that this castle was also built with a military role in mind.
The interior of the chateau may be explored, and like the exterior, it is designed in the Renaissance style, complete with enormous fireplaces and wooden floors. The tour takes place over three floors and features a variety of impressively decorated rooms on each level. There are a few of them that also adhere to a theme, which is something that adds intrigue to a visit.
One of the rooms features Mounet Sully’s collection of Limoges pottery, and another room features caricature drawings by SEM, a well-known caricaturist from Perigueux. A large hall is decorated with furniture collected by Mounet Sully, a famous actor from Bergerac. Another room features his collection of Limoges pottery.
Those who have a passion for wine will find that touring the kitchens and wine cellars located in the basement of the Chateau de Monbazillac is a particularly enjoyable experience. It should come as no surprise that you also have the opportunity to sample and purchase the wines here at the chateau: Wine enthusiasts all around the world adore Monbazillac wines, particularly the white sweet dessert wine.
After you have finished exploring the castle, take some time to explore the surrounding gardens and take in the sights. There are many magnificent views across the famed vineyards towards Bergerac and to the north due to the raised elevation of the castle and settlement on the edge of a hill where it is located.
This location, as well as the parking lot in the middle of Monbazillac, is the starting point for a number of different hikes that take you through the countryside in the area. In point of fact, the village is traversed by the lengthy Grande Randonnée 6 (GR6) path; the Grande Randonnée 636 connects Monbazillac to Lacapelle-Biron, a village in Lot-et-Garonne to the east of here; and the Grande Randonnée 654 travels through Monbazillac on its way between Bergerac and the Gers region to the south. Therefore, it might be considered a sort of crossroads for hikers!
The word “Grande Randonnée” comes from the French language and refers to a great distance route.
This photograph was taken during the final week of the month of October. If you want to view the fall colors when the vines are at their most gorgeous, you should visit around this time of year. However, you should be aware that there is a potential of chilly weather and rain during this time of year. We are able to pick a great day to ride our bikes up to the castle because we live in the area.
In addition, there are a great deal of country roads in the neighborhood for cyclists to explore. You should be aware that the quiet road between Bergerac and Monbazillac (you should avoid the main busy route) is also one of the longer and steeper hills to cycle up in the region; however, the reward is that you get to see the castle when you get at the top of the hill!
Those who are interested in Monbazillac Castle should also consider going to the Chateau de Bridoire, which is located very near by. In the south-western portion of the Dordogne department, there are a number of towns and villages that are worth visiting. The historic center of Bergerac, the ancient center of Issigeac, which is located to the south-east, and the bastide town of Eymet, which is located to the west of here are some of our favorites that are located near to Monbazillac.