The chateau's style, quintesentially French, combines splendour and military pomp. Its stunning interior décor includes panelling and painted ceilings, and monumental fireplaces made from marble and sculpted stone.
The Duke of Epernon was captain of Gascony, and he ascended to the highest ranks in the late 16th century, as a favourite of king Henri III, until he died in disgrace under the reign of Louis XIII. 
A Renaissance classic, it became a prison in the 19th century, and until the 1950s it held female prisoners. It has an exceptional collection of tapestries, as well as a good museum depicting the harsh times when the building was a prison.
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Château de Cadillac

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Château de Malle is a sweet white wine ranked as Second Cru Classé (French, "Second Growth") in the original Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. Belonging to the Sauternes appellation in Gironde, in the region of Graves, the winery is located in the commune of Sauternes. The gardens of the chateau are classified among the Notable Gardens of France by the Committee of Parks and Gardens of the French Ministry of Culture.
Gardens
The gardens of the château were created between 1717 and 1724 by Alexandre Eutrope de Lur Saluces. They were inspired by the gardens that he saw in Florence during his grand tour of Italy and his time spent at the court in Versailles. The park has a wide central axis and two terraces, with groups of statues and vases. The statues were done by Italian artists brought there for that purpose in the early part of the 18th century, and represent figures from Greek mythology: Cephalus, Aurora, Cupid, Aphrodite (Venus), Adonis, and Flora, the goddess of flowers and gardens. Other statues represent wine-making, the joys of the hunt and fishing, wine and intoxication. To the east of the first terrace is a small theater, decorated with figures from the Italian commedia dell'arte: Pantalone, Scaramouche and Harlequin. A stairway leads to a second terrace, where there are statues symbolizing of earth, wind, air and fire. The estate has, over the centuries, known numerous trials and tribulations. Both good and bad fortune. The Château was not inhabited regularly for practically two generations. In the early fifties Pierre de Bournazel took over the property inherited from his uncle and godfather, Pierre de Lur-Saluces. He was a man possessed by a love of the land and of stone and he decided to re-instil life into the buildings and vineyards which undeniably were in a state of considerable neglect. He rebuilt the fermentation cellar, studied estate management, followed a course in oenology and together, with the help of his wife, made it a point of honour to re-establish the initial shape and form of the rooms of the Château whilst retaining their original appearance.
In 1956 he replanted the entire vineyard which had been destroyed by frost. Pierre de Bournazel became, as time went by, a major figure in the viticultural world of Bordeaux. He became the president of the Classified Growth Association of Sauternes and Barsac and in 1959 created the “Commanderie du Bontemps de Sauternes et Barsac”. Since the death in 1985 of her husband the Countess de Bournazel has taken great pains to continue the magnificent task which he commenced. Whilst continuing with the work of renovating to its previous splendour both the Château and the gardens, she has also managed to surround herself with an efficient team, responsible for continuing the task of enhancing the quality and value of the vineyard. She is today seconded by her sons. Château de Malle produces three excellent and prestigious wines - Château de Malle, Sauternes, “Grand Cru Classé” Great Classified Growth in 1855, Château de Cardaillan, a red Graves, and the M. de Malle a dry white Graves.
Production
Château de Malle owns a total of 50 hectares (120 acres) vineyards in the communes of Preignac, Toulenne and Fargues. Of these, 28 hectares (69 acres) are in the Sauternes appellation, 3 hectares (7.4 acres) are dedicated to the production Graves Blanc and 20 hectares (49 acres) to Graves Rouge.
In the Sauternes appellation, production consists of the classified growth Château de Malle, as well as the unclassified Château de St Hélène. The composition of Château de Malle is 70% Sémillon, 28% Sauvignon blanc and 2% Muscadelle, and one-third new oak is used for the barrels.
A dry white wine called M de Malle is produced in the Graves appellation. It is composed of 70% Sauvignon blanc and 30% Sémillon, and is aged 6–9 months in oak, of which 30% new oak.
Red Graves wine is produced under the names Château de Cardaillan (50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot) and Château Pessan (60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Château de Malle

The Château de Langoiran is located in the district of Bordeaux in Gironde, in Langoiran, Aquitaine, France. The "donjon" of the castle (fortified central tower) is one of the largest in France. It overlooks the Garonne Valley and offers a good view for visitors. It has been listed as a French Monument Historique since May 1892.
History
This castle was built in the 13th century by the Escoussans family, one of the most famous families of Gascony. The castle of Langoiran was owned successively by the families of Escoussans, Albret (from 1345 to 1378), and Montferrand (from 1378 to 1590). Bertrand III de Montferrand was Soudan de la Trau. He married Isabelle de Preissac, daughter of Arnaud de Preissac, Soudan de La Trau, (member of the Order of the Garter) and Marguerite of Stratton (daughter of John of Stratton).
After being ruined by multiple unsuccessful wars, the owners were forced to sell their land and the castle to a gentry family from Bordeaux: the Arnoulds. The castle of Langoiran and its seignory were mentioned as early as the 11th century. The older parts of the remaining castle date from the 13th century and the Renaissance.
The seignory of Langoiran was one of the most famous and powerful of the Duchy of Aquitaine. For centuries, it had been involved in quarrels between the kings of France and England, both hoping to obtain its accession. When the Duchy of Aquitaine belonged to the English kings and not to the Kingdom, the successors of Henry II Plantagenet were called "Kings of England and Aquitaine".
The Lords of Langoiran always supported the King-Duke, other than Bérard d'Albret, who had to fight at the end of his life on behalf of the King of France.

Château de Langoiran

The Château de Budos is a ruined castle north of the village of Budos, in the Gironde département of France.
History
The Château de Budos is largely the work of Raymond Guilhem de Budos, nephew of Pope Clement V. Originally built by his uncle, he remodelled it from 1306, the old family castle taking on the architectural layout of the neighbouring castle, the Château de Villandraut.
In 1422-23, the English king Henry VI took possession of the castle and put it in the charge of Pons, lord of Castillon. Around 1433, Henry conceded the lands and castle to his son, the Duke of Gloucester. In 1446-47, Budos was given to the Count of Foix, following the death of Gloucester. After the conquest of Guyenne (Aquitaine), the Budos family, having supported the cause of the French crown, regained possession of its seigneuries in Guyenne. In 1652, the cavalry captain Lasserre seized Budos which he sacked and pillaged and burnt the archives. The seigneury of Budos stayed in the family of La Roque until the French Revolution. In 1825, the castle was sold as national property. In 1851, the Gironde Commission of Historic Monuments was informed of the castle. They learned at the same time that stones originating from the castle had been sold to a builder by the state.
Architecture
The castle is rectangular in plan. A vast U-shaped building range around the courtyard is protected by a high wall contained by towers at the corners. Entry is made through a high square tower. On each face, a non-projecting square tower dominates the curtain wall and the buildings. The north-east curtain wall seems to have been raised several times. The crenellations of the first roundwalk have been filled in.
The ground level appears flat today thanks to embankments which have been placed there. Originally, the ground sloped and the architecture provides evidence of the different levels.
The Château de Budos has been classified since 1988 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

Château de Budos

The Château de Roquetaillade is a castle in Mazères (near Bordeaux), in the French département of Gironde.
History
Charlemagne, on his way to the Pyrenees with Roland, built the first fortification there. Of this old castle, nothing remains but imposing ruins.
In 1306, with the permission of the English King Edward I, Cardinal de la Mothe, nephew of Pope Clement V built a second fortress (le Château Neuf).
This new castle was square in plan with six towers and a central keep. The entire structure was restored and transformed by Viollet-le-Duc and one of his pupils, Duthoit, between 1860 and 1870. The extraordinary interior decorations, with its furnishings and paintings, were created by Viollet-le-Duc and are listed as French Heritage.
The château park includes remains of the medieval curtain wall with the barbican, the Pesquey stream and its banks, the 19th century chalet, and the Crampet pigeon loft.
It has been listed since 1976 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture and is open to the public.
Today
The castle has been lived in by the same family for over 700 years. It has been open to the public since 1956 and is the most visited in the Bordeaux region. Open all year round, visits in English with the owners are also possible.
Other activities at the castle include a famous production of white Graves wines "Chateaufort de Roquetaillade", and Bazadais cattle breeding.
The castle been used as a location in several films, including Fantômas contre Scotland Yard and Le Pacte des loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf).

Château de Roquetaillade

The Château de La Brède is a feudal castle in the commune of La Brède in the département of Gironde, France.
The castle was built in the Gothic style starting in 1306, on the site of an earlier castle. It is surrounded by water-filled moats and an English garden, in the centre of a Bordelais vineyard. Despite modifications over the centuries, it has kept its character as a fortress.
The philosopher Montesquieu (full title: Charles Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu) was born, lived and wrote the majority of his works here. Visitors may see his library (though the books have been transferred to the library in Bordeaux) and his bedroom, both preserved as they were in the 18th century.
At her death in 2004, the Countess of Chabannes, a descendant of Montesquieu and last owner of the château, bequeathed her belongings, including the castle, to the Foundation named after her.
The castle is open to visitors from Easter to 11 November. It is classed by the French Ministry of Culture as a monument historique.

Château de La Brède

The Château de Villandraut is a ruined castle in the commune of Villandraut in the Gironde département of France.
The castle was built by Bertrand de Goth when he was elected Pope under the name of Clement V.
Born in Villandraut, he maintained throughout his life a special affection for his region of origin. This sumptuous castle was destined to serve as his residence during his stays in Guyenne (Aquitaine).
The castle has been classified since 1886 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

Château de Villandraut

Château de Rauzan is a castle in the French commune of Rauzan, in the Gironde département of France.
Built by John Lackland, Duke of Normandy (1199-1204), Duke of Guyenne (1199-1216) and King of England 1199-1216, the castle was built on a rock occupied since ancient times. Witness of the Hundred year War, the castle was captured twice by the French.
It has been listed since 1862 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture. From 1970, the commune of Rauzan, owner since 1900, and lovers of medieval architecture, have undertaken work of clearing and restoration.
History
The castle at Rauzan was erected in the 13th century by John, King of England. It then became the property of Rudel of Bergerac (1223-1320), then of Guillaume-Raymond of Madaillan (1320-1391) who fought at the side of the Black Prince, governor of Guyenne of 1356 to 1370, at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 and at the imprisonment of the King of France, John II ("John the Good").
In October 1370, Bertrand of Guesclin returned to France where he was made constable to Charles V and began his big venture to expel the English from france. Contrary to the habits of the French chivalry, he did not proceed to the great mountains with the entire French army, but preferred to methodically reconquer whole provinces, besieging castle after castle. He would chase the English from Normandy, Guyenne, Saintonge and Poitou. The castle in Rauzan was captured in 1377.
Rauzan was then the subject of a law suit between Henri IV (1367-1413) and Jeanne of Armagnac, great-granddaughter of Saint Louis and wife of Guillaume-Amanieu of Madaillan (1375-1414), the last male representative of that branch, whose wife had a daughter named Agnès, who died young. At the death of her husband, she won the right to remarry a Frenchman on condition of giving up the castle.
Rauzan then fell to Bernard Angevin (1437-1480), whose opportunistic attitude pointed the English camp to the French camp in accordance to his interests. At the end of the Hundred Years' War, he sided with the crown of France and retained all of his property. As the troubles of the war passed, he refurbished the castle little by little as it evolved from a fortified castle into a residental château.
Rauzan then passed into the hands of Durfort of Duras who gradually abandoned it. Bordeaux quarrymen extracted stones of the building (for cutting tombstones) and blocks of rock on which it was based, which caused the northern part of the château to fall. The ruins became, in 1819, the property of Chastellux before the town acquired it in 1900.
Building description
The building secured three main functions that characterised medieval castles: defence, housing and reflection of the power of the family.
The castle entrance
The entrance was protected by several defensive elements. A barbican controlled the drawbridge and access to the castle. There was another drawbridge that has disappeared. The door was protected by a portcullis with a watch tower and the keep to the left.
The keep
The keep's cylindrical plan was built around 1325. Each floor has three arches. On the first floor it had a trapdoor in the centre of the room provided access to the storerooms below. The second floor has the oldest castle fireplace. Parts of the third and fourth floors are more spacious because they were built on an octagonal plan and have much wider arches. Also, they are not cluttered with chimneys because they were heated with heating vents.
The stately home
Built in the early century 14th, the stately home was completely remodeled in the 15th century. When it was built, a central separating wall and cross windows were introduced onto the courtyard outside. It can be accessed from the courtyard on the ground floor or the staircase serving all floors. On the first floor was the reception room in which only a few frescoes remain. The lord’s apartments were in the second floor; all of the rooms in this home contained fireplaces.
The ladies' quarters (northeast) were built in the 16th century but were completely destroyed in 19th century, when the castle was abandoned.
A round walk served various homes. The door of honour is Gothic styled and decorated with the arms of Bernard Angevin and Duras Durfort.
The west buildings
Along the west wall, facing the stately home, sit buildings that overlook the courtyard which remain on the foundation today. This structure was a very common defensive system. Parts which remain include latrines leading into the ditch, a walkway accessed by stairs. A ditch and towers to the prison lay around the well; both have been ruined.
The northern wall
Nothing remains in this part of the building due to the quarrymen of Bordeaux extracting its stone for carving tombstones which caused the wall to collapse in 1845.
Film
Serge de Poligny filmed Le Baron fantôme (The Phantom Baron, 1942) at Château de Rauzan.