Château de Pennautier: savour the wines… and life in a chateau
Dubbed the ‘Versailles of Languedoc’, Château de Pennautier is the historic home of the de Lorgeril family, one of France’s oldest winegrowing lineages, whose vineyards extend over 340 hectares spanning 9 appellations in Languedoc and Roussillon. Designed as a showcase for wine, the impressive building, listed as an Historic Monument, is a remarkable wine tourism destination where you can stay, eat and admire the setting in one fell swoop.
A witness to history and a family’s life spanning 4 centuries
Château de Pennautier, a listed Historic Monument, is a renowned wine estate (producing a range of AOC and IGP Pays d’Oc wines) and a fairly rare example of a private chateau, which has been entirely restored and opened to the public. “There was no other choice for us but to provide a magical backdrop for our wine business”, stresses Miren de Lorgeril. Alongside her husband Nicolas de Lorgeril, she manages the heritage vineyards surrounding the chateau in Pennautier.
Open to the public since 2002 and entirely restored in 2009...
… Château de Pennautier, located near the walled city of Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi (two Unesco heritage sites), stands out for the quality of its wine tourism hospitality. It offers a tour of the vineyards, a visit to the winery, gourmet restaurant and snacks (at the Château’s Table Cave restaurant, open all year round), cookery classes and private concerts to name a few, all of which add to the pleasure of visiting this impressive building listed as an Historic Monument. It was built in 1620 by Bernard de Pennautier, ancestor of current incumbent Nicolas de Lorgeril. Le Nôtre designed the formal gardens, while Le Vau, the architect of Versailles, was tasked with elevating the chateau’s wings (the Orangery and the Louis XIV gallery).
Open to the public since 2002 and entirely restored in 2009...
… Château de Pennautier, located near the walled city of Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi (two Unesco heritage sites), stands out for the quality of its wine tourism hospitality. It offers a tour of the vineyards, a visit to the winery, gourmet restaurant and snacks (at the Château’s Table Cave restaurant, open all year round), cookery classes and private concerts to name a few, all of which add to the pleasure of visiting this impressive building listed as an Historic Monument. It was built in 1620 by Bernard de Pennautier, ancestor of current incumbent Nicolas de Lorgeril. Le Nôtre designed the formal gardens, while Le Vau, the architect of Versailles, was tasked with elevating the chateau’s wings (the Orangery and the Louis XIV gallery).
A witness to history and a family’s life spanning 4 centuries
Château de Pennautier, a listed Historic Monument, is a renowned wine estate (producing a range of AOC and IGP Pays d’Oc wines) and a fairly rare example of a private chateau, which has been entirely restored and opened to the public. “There was no other choice for us but to provide a magical backdrop for our wine business”, stresses Miren de Lorgeril. Alongside her husband Nicolas de Lorgeril, she manages the heritage vineyards surrounding the chateau in Pennautier.
This incredible flagship now rolls out its 2,500 m2 of history for visitors, who can visit the Orangery, the reception rooms, the portrait gallery and stay in the chateau’s guest rooms. Like an amazing time machine, it epitomises the elegant French lifestyle and gives visitors the chance to admire not only what Miren de Lorgeril calls “the house collection” (furniture handed down from generation to generation), but also rarer pieces such as the travel furniture gifted by King Louis XIII during his stay at Pennautier in 1622, tapestries from the royal manufacturer, the porcelain gallery of the East India Company, and the chateau’s remarkable collection of paintings.
Accommodation
At the chateau (bookings available for a minimum of 4 rooms or 2 suites a night). At the Maison du Jardinier (in the chateau grounds) or at Domaine de Garille, an outbuilding located 2 kilometres from the chateau, or 7 gîtes designed like family homes with a capacity of 55.
Restaurant facilities
At the Table Cave du Château. Restaurant open all year round, serving lunch, dinner, tapas around the fireplace or on the terrace, hot and cold food all day long, depending on opening times.
Visits
Guided tours of the chateau listed as an Historic Monument, visit of the 30-hectare grounds, wine-related workshops (introduction to wine tasting, tour of the vineyard focusing on the grapevines, winegrowers’ workshop including pruning, harvesting, etc.).
