Vineyards evoke a feeling of grandeur and French lifestyle “par excellence” but for most of the 2000 year history of Bordeaux, vineyards we not unlike any other farm. Medieval chateaux were commonly located on high points over looking their estates. Noblemen in favour with their king were given ownership of all the land that they could see – so clearly there was an incentive to seek a location that had a good vantage point. The chateaux were therefore on elevated positions, often with walled courtyards offering fortification for food stores and animals, a tower that housed the stairway and very few windows…
In 2012 we sold Chateau Pabus a Bordeaux chateau located near Sadirac. Although we never had legal documentation to prove it, there is anecdotal historical evidence that it was the work of Victor Louis. Not far from Chateau Pabus in the “premières côtes” is Chateau Renon, also inspired by Victor Louis however, there is debate over whether it was designed by Louis himself or one of his students. Finally, and although there are many other examples, there is Chateau Aignan in St Loubes that is worthy of note as another likely example of his work..The study of architecture is a vast subject even for one relatively small region such as Bordeaux. Function has inspired form in many cases as the practicalities of wine farming influence architect and client alike over the centuries. All across the Bordeaux landscape you will find simple rectangular nineteenth century houses – south facing, with a north facing Vat house attached to the rear. Known as “Girondines” this practical Bordeaux wine estate is the most common architectural style in the region and although it does not look like an archetypal “French chateau” that has a prestigious name associated with it such as Victor Louis, it nonetheless is a French chateau and probably the most distinctive representation of what we know to be a Bordeaux vineyard chateau today.
In 2012 we sold Chateau Pabus a Bordeaux chateau located near Sadirac. Although we never had legal documentation to prove it, there is anecdotal historical evidence that it was the work of Victor Louis. Not far from Chateau Pabus in the “premières côtes” is Chateau Renon, also inspired by Victor Louis however, there is debate over whether it was designed by Louis himself or one of his students. Finally, and although there are many other examples, there is Chateau Aignan in St Loubes that is worthy of note as another likely example of his work.The study of architecture is a vast subject even for one relatively small region such as Bordeaux. Function has inspired form in many cases as the practicalities of wine farming influence architect and client alike over the centuries.. All across the Bordeaux landscape you will find simple rectangular nineteenth century houses – south facing, with a north facing Vat house attached to the rear. Known as “Girondines” this practical Bordeaux wine estate is the most common architectural style in the region and although it does not look like an archetypal “French chateau” that has a prestigious name associated with it such as Victor Louis, it nonetheless is a French chateau and probably the most distinctive representation of what we know to be a Bordeaux vineyard chateau today.