Built: 1810
Status: Private
Visitable?: Yes
Notable: One of the most famous and prestigious wines. Classified at 1st “grand crus” of the Bordeaux area wines.
Web: Chateau Margaux
Although Chateau Margaux is a stunning and remarkable castle that is open to visitors, its fame is not solely due to its beauty. The castle boasts a particular feature that makes it a “must-see” destination for those in the southern region of France.
… it’s all about this:
WINES!! For those that don’t know, Chateau Margaux is one of the most famous and prestigious wines in the world, and this is where they are made.
Chateau Margaux is recognised as the 1st most important growth (in French =”cru”) of the Bordeaux region.
Driving up the estate, you are already welcomed by the impressive castle:
Although the castle as built in 1810, there used to be a castle before that was built in the 13th century. The castle and its grounds have changed hands many, many times over the centuries, from inheritances, marriages, confiscation (French revolution) and sales.
The estate of 262 hectares (647 acres) is obviously not just the castle, but there are many buildings around it that are there for the growing, storing and production of the grapes:
Entrance to the Margaux castle estate
Main buildings for the Chateau Margaux
Storage buildings for the Chateau Margaux
Grape collection machinery buildings for the Chateau Margaux
Rear part of the Chateau Margaux buildings
Exit of the Chateau MargauxThe wine making portion of the Castle is obviously very important and takes on quite a lot of space.
You can visit the production facilities, but you’ll need to reserve since a guide will bring you around.
Machines for grape production at the Chateau Margaux
Added wine production facilities at the Chateau Margaux
Preparing the wines at the Chateau MargauxAt the end of the wine production, before they are poured into wine bottles, this is where the wine rests:
In one of the buildings, not only is it the place where you would go for the start of the guided tours, you will find also an exhibition of the castle.
The castle is definitely worth a visit, and you can freely walk around the property. But if you want to see the wine production and “cellars”, you will need to book well in advance (Monday to Friday only, and not during public holidays, nor in August). To reserve, click here.
SORRY, no wine tasting here, nor can you buy the wines directly.
Click here to access the Chateau Margaux website
And as a little bit of useless information, the famous American writer, Ernest Hemingway, was so in love with the castle and its wines, he named his grand-daughter after the castle, Margaux Hemingway!
Other wine castles in the area (more coming soon):
- Chateau Palmer
- Chateau Desmirail
- Chateau Cantenac Brown
- Chateau Durfort-Vivens
- Chateau Marojallia
- Chateau Dauzac
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