Epernon Ch�teaux

I've gathered too many pictures of the various ch�teaux. To include them all here would make this page uncomfortable reading. So I've made a photo album of all the ch�teau photos I've collected. After the story of each ch�teau, there's a link to the album. After viewing, you can use your back button to return here and read on.

Ch�teaux Photo Album

CH�TEAU DE CAUMONT

The current Ch�teau de Caumont was built between 1525 and 1535 by Pierre de Nogaret de la Valette, after he returned from the Italian Wars of King Fran�ois 1st, on the site of the original "ch�teau fort" which belonged to Gaston Ph�bus. The well-known Toulouse architect, Nicolas Bachelier, drew up the plans.

Jean-Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, the first duc d'�pernon, one of the famous "Cadet de Gascogne", and a "mignon" of King Henri III, was born in 1554 in the ch�teau.

In the Northern wing is the chambre du Roi (king's room) where Henry III of Navarre, future King Henry IV, stayed.

Later, when the Jean-Louis, the duc d'�pernon, fell out of favor with the King, partly due to the machinations of the Cardinal Richelieu who hated and feared him, he lost many of his properties, including his favorite ch�teau, Cadillac (see below), but his loss did not include Caumont, which he had earlier given to one of his sons.

The ch�teau website indicates that he was locked in the dungeon at Loches, but every other reference I've found indicates, simply, that he died in Loches.

During the 19th century, Armand, the marquis de Castelbajac lived in the ch�teau. He was one of Napoleon's generals and followed him through Europe during all the battles of the "Grande Arm�e".

The Marquis was Napoleon III's ambassador to Russia. The Castelbajac family still lives in the castle which is a Listed Historical Monument.

The ch�teau is in the village of Cazaux-Sav�s. There is a park, and a museum. One can visit the Ch�teau de Caumont on a guided visit with a video introduction. Open hours are: May, June, September and October: Sundays - 3-6 pm; and July-August: daily - 3-6 pm. Cost for adults is 5 EUR. Visit the website: Ch�teau de Caumont.

CH�TEAU DE CADILLAC

Jean I de Grailly (died c. 1301) was the seneschal of the Duchy of Gascony from 1266 to 1268, of the Kingdom of Jerusalem from about 1272 until about 1276, and of Gascony again from 1278 until 1286 or 1287. In 1280 he founded the town of Cadillac to serve as a river port for Benauges. Cadillac was a bastide, or fortified village.

Overlooking the Garonne river and the bastide de Cadillac, the ch�teau is a prime example of early 17th century architecture, was an impressive monument in its day, and it rivaled royal properties.

In 1587, Jean-Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, duc d'�pernon, married Marguerite de Foix-Candale, the grand-daughter of the Constable Anne de Montmorency.

Marguerite de Foix-Candale, the duchesse d'�pernon was the heir of her uncle, Bishop Fran�ois de Foix-Candale, and, consequently, inherited this property, among others.

Upon the accession of King Henri IV in 1589, le duc d'�pernon, who had been a "favorite" of King Henri III, demolished "la bastide" in order to construct a new residence. This took 40 years.

Of the richly decorated castle built by the duke, all that remains is the main building with its two wings at right angles, the courtyard, and the garden.

Inside, there are monumental marble fireplaces with carved figures. One of them displays an oil portrait of Bernard, the 2nd duc d'�pernon. Painted ceilings from the 17th century and tapestries remain. This decoration gives a good idea of the splendor of the receptions given in honor of the visits of Kings Henri IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV.

Hospitality at the ch�teau was extended to Louis XIII in 1617 then to Anne of Austria accompanied by Richelieu in 1632.

Jean-Lois, the first duke, died in 1642. He and the duchesse d'�pernon are buried across the plaza in the family mausoleum at the Church of St. Blaise, which the duc had constructed for them.

Their son, Bernard, became the 2nd duc, and he used this ch�teau also. In 1646, the playwright Moli�re and his troop sojourned at the ch�teau. Also entertained there were Cardinal Mazarin in 1659 and King Louis XIV and Marie-Th�r�se of Spain in 1660.

The ch�teau is known for producing sweet dessert wines under the Cadillac AOC designation.

The ch�teau was restored in 1952 and is available to be toured. Location: Cadillac-sur-Garonne, 35km SW of Bordeaux in southwestern France. Open: June-September (10 am to 1:15 pm; and 2-6 pm). October-May (10 am to 12:30 pm; and 2-5:30 pm) except Mondays. Price: Full fare �4.10. Visit the ch�teau website: Ch�teau de Cadillac.

CH�TEAU DE BEYCHEVELLE
"Le Versailles du M�doc"

Ch�teau Beychevelle is one of the M�doc's finest properties. Built in the style of Louis XV, the estate lies at the south-eastern tip of the St Julien commune, close to the town of Beychevelle, with near neighbours including Ch�teau St Pierre and Ch�teau Gloria.

Beychevelle is known as �The Versailles of the M�doc� as a tribute to the ch�teau's elegant classical architecture and French gardens, which look fine from the road or from the Gironde river less than a mile away.

The origins of the estate are ancient and lie in the seigneurie of Lamarque, this being one of the locations of the numerous fortified houses that lined the Gironde in former times.

In the early 15th century the estate was in the hands of the de Grailly family, and passed from them in 1446 to the Foix-Candale family, who also owned Ch�teau d'Issan. Under the tenure of the Foix-Candales the property was known as the Ch�teau de M�doc.

The property passed to the bishop�s niece and heir, spouse of Jean-Louis de Nogaret de la Valette, First duc d'�pernon. Jean-Louis was a favourite of King Henri III, Grand Admiral of France, and later successively governor of Provence and Guyenne.

The original ch�teau had been built by Bishop Fran�ois de Foix-Candale (uncle to the Admiral's wife) in 1565.

Beychevelle was improved on by the Admiral and his son built the ch�teau's central part in 1644 and consolidated the vineyard. The wine of Beychevelle was shipped to England, Flanders and the Germanic countries from the port at the bottom of the gardens.

It is said that Jean-Louis was responsible for renaming of the estate to "Beychevelle".

The all-powerful duc d'�pernon ruled the locals with an iron rod as Governor of Guyenne. As the duc was also Admiral of the French Navy, when French galleons sailed past the ch�teau on the Gironde River (there must have been many as Bordeaux was a significant port), they lowered their sails in homage to him. This act (baisse voile in French, bacha velo in the Gascon tongue) led to the name "Beychevelle".

It's a fanciful story, one that bestows some honour on Nogaret, and unsurprisingly there are doubts about its authenticity. After all, it seems likely that ships would lower sails as they approached the port of Bordeaux anyway, regardless of the presence of a nearby ch�teau-dwelling admiral. As well, they may have lowered their sails to pass by undetected and thus avoid the toll chargedby the duke.

Ch�teau Beychevelle's emblem is a ship with a prow in the shape of a griffin, with sails lowered, and appears on the wine label.

The figurehead is especially appropriate as, according to Greek mythology, a griffon guarded the door of the cellar belonging to the god of wine: Dionysus. The ship is also symbolic as it is a Viking longship (a Drekar) and there is evidence that the Vikings had a naval base and colony in Gascony. The chiefs who conquered Gascony were called Ragnar, Asgeir, Hastein and Bj�rn. These were the Saekonungar, the Sea Kings, who led the invasions in Western Europe.

With the death of Jean-Louis, the estate, and the title, were passed to his son, Bernard de Nogaret de la Valette, who became the 2nd duc d'�pernon and the owner of "Beychevelle".

When the 2nd duc, Bernard, died in 1661, he left behind a handsome collection of unpaid debts. In order to satisfy the demands of his creditors, the estate was divided and sold off.

What was to become Ch�teau Beychevelle was purchased by the duc de Rendan (himself a Foix-Candale), before passing to the Abbadie family who seemed to continue the theme of neglect, although it was probably under their direction that the vineyard was established. Nevertheless, they also sold the estate, and now the new owner was the marquis Fran�ois-Etienne de Brassier.

The marquis was responsible for today's fine ch�teau, completing in 1757 a reconstruction and development of what previous owners had erected during the previous century. He reunited much of the estate, purchasing parcels of land which had been sold off after the duc d'�pernon's death. He also had an interest in horticulture (see the fine gardens) and viticulture, constructing a vat house during his tenure.

The start of the 19th century saw the property in decline, but then Bordeaux wine merchant Pierre-Fran�ois Guestier, brought Ch�teau Beychevelle back to its splendour by winning a gold medal in 1866.

His successor, Armand Heine, cousin of German poet Heinrich Heine, had the north wing of the castle built. He also replanted the vineyard after the phylloxera disaster. His wife, Marie-Am�lie Kohn then re-established this vineyard.

Today the Ch�teau is owned by the Grands Mill�simes de France (GMF), the French Civil Servants' Pension Fund and the Japanese group Suntory, who also own nearby Ch�teau Lagrange. With new ownership came new investment, and in recent vintages this has been evident as improved quality in the wine.

The Fourth Growth Ch�teau Beychevelle is one of the most beautiful properties of Bordeaux and is in St Julien, immediately opposite Ch�teau Branaire Ducru. The 175 acres of vines are located in the far south of Saint Julien just outside the hamlet of Saint Julien Beychevelle and the Ch�teau is less than a mile away from the River Gironde.

The ch�teau is in the village of Saint-Julien Beychevelle, M�doc, France. Visit the ch�teau website: Ch�teau Beychevelle Try the wines - Interest in Wine.

Former Beychevelle Properties

The Fourth Growth Ch�teau Branaire Ducru was once part of Ch�teau Beychevelle but became separate in the 1600s when the estate was partitioned.

The other ch�teau that was formed from this division was Ch�teau Ducru Beaucaillou. Branaire Ducru (sometimes known as Ch�teau Branaire Duluc Ducru) takes its name from Jean Baptiste Braneyre who purchased it in 1680 and from the Duluc family. The crowns on Branaire Ducru's label are in memory of the last of the Duluc family members to own it - a marquis, a viscount, a count and countess.

CH�TEAU DE CANDALE

Ch�teau de Candale is one of the oldest estates in M�doc, owned until the French revolution by the Foix de Candale family.

This lovely ch�teau, Grand Cru of Saint-Emilion, overlooks the village of Saint Laurent des Combes at the bottom of the Saint-Emilion plateau.

Le ch�teau de Candale tient probablement son origine de lady Marguerite de Suffolk Kandall, descendante d'�douard III, roi d'Angleterre et duc d'Aquitaine. Son mariage avec le comte Jean de Foix permet � celui-ci d'ajouter � ses titres celui de comte de Candale.

Partisan de l'Aquitaine anglaise, Jean de Foix est emprisonn� pendant sept ans apr�s la victoire fran�aise � la bataille de Castillon, qui met fin � la tguerre de cent ans. Il devient en 1461 seigneur du pays de Buch, au sud du Bassin d'Arcachon. Il reconna�t en 1468 le droit de gemme et de bois aux habitants de La Teste de Buch et cr�e la for�t usag�re. Ce droit d'usage est toujours en vigueur aujourd'hui.

Le comte et la comtesse de Foix-Candale appr�cient � leur table lels vins de leur fief de Saint-�milion, d�j� r�put�s � cette �poque gr�ce aux exigeantes r�gles de qualit� �dict�es par la Jurade de Saint �milion.

Current owners, Steve and Denise Adams, fell under its charm, and purchased the ch�teau in 2002. "Revealing this powerful and noble terroir: such is our new challenge for Candale. The cellars have been completely renovated up to the level of a Grand Cru Class�."

PRODUCTION AREA: Haut M�doc, on the left bank of Bordeaux region.
GRAPES: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot.
DESCRIPTION: Color: Dark purple.
BOUQUET: Aromas of black currant with a hint of spice.
PALATE: Full-bodied and well-concentrated, with an elegant finish.
VINIFICATION: Select grapes are pressed and the must is fermented on the lees for 8-15 days in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged for 18 months in oak barrels, 1/3 of which are new barrels.
ALCOHOL: 12.5%.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Perfect accompaniment to game, red meat and hearty stews.

CH�TEAU DE PLASSAC

A ch�teau fort existed here in 1340. About 1555, Jean-Louis Nogaret de la Valette, duc d'�pernon bought the property.

In 1633, the duc had an altercation with the archbishop of Bordeaux and it followed that he was excommuniated from the church. He was the exiled to his castle at Plassac for some years, and then finally, he was ordered to proceed to the Ch�teau de Loches, where he was formerly governor, and where he died.

In 1940, during the German occupation, Rommel used the property for some of his officers.

Ch�teau de Plassac is privately owned and I understand the public is allowed to visit the gardens only.

CH�TEAU DE SUAU

According to tradition and local history, Ch�teau Suau was the hunting lodge of the duc d'�pernon. It was restored in the 16th century and in 1687, during the reign of Louis XVI, the ch�teau was owned by the Suau family of Capian and has retained the family name, even though there have been many owners throughout the following centuries.

At the end of the 19th century the vineyard was already producing red and sweet white wines.

During the 20th century Ch�teau Suau had several proprietors and was acquired in 1986 by the Bonnet family. Today, it's domain spreads over 82 hectares.

Fifty-nine hectares are planted with vines on gravely-clayey soils making a mosaic of plots, with selected grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Sauvignon, S�millon, and Muscadelle.

Directions: SE of Bordeaux, take the Motorway "Bordeaux Toulouse", exit "Cadillac" (direction Bordeaux, D 10). In Paillet, turn right at the traffic lights, in the direction of Villenave de Rions, D237. Once you have passed through the village, Ch�teau Suau is located on the left. Visit the ch�teau website: Ch�teau Suau.

CH�TEAU DE VILLEBOIS-LAVALETTE

Villebois-Lavalette is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is the seat of the Canton of Villebois-Lavalette, and is built on a fortified hill, south of Angoul�me on the steps of Perigord. There is a ch�teau dating back to Roman times.

The 180 metre high hill upon which the town and ch�teau are now located had been the site of a Gallic oppidum and a Roman castrum until in the 8th century, a ch�teau was started to be built by the Fulcher family. It was continued by the Helie family and finally completed in the 12th century by the Ithier family.

Ithier was a powerful lord who participated in the Crusades and erected a Romanesque chapel in the ch�teau close to the outside wall that was used by pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela as refuge and accommodation.

In the 13th century, the Lusignan family (the Count of Angoul�me), added 2 parts to the primitive chapel, enlarged the ch�teau's enclosure and walls, and built 7 towers to turn it into a formidable fortress.

Because of its commanding position, it became a much sought after location. In the Hundred Years' War, the English occupied it until it was reclaimed by the Duke of Berry in 1376.

During the Wars of Religion (1562-1598), the town and ch�teau was taken by the Protestants until they were overthrown by the Catholics. Villebois during this time was largely destroyed.

In 1589, the Knight of Aubeterre (Protestant leader of the League of Angoumois), transformed the ch�teau into a garrison for troops. The Duke of �pernon, Catholic, besieged it and forced out the troops by using large canons.

Eight years later, in 1597, Jean Louis de La Valette Nogaret, le duc d'�pernon, Gascon cadet, then Governor of Angoumois from 1554-1642, bought the castle and the land around the town.

The young Louis XIII stayed there with his new wife, Anne of Austria, invited by the duc d��pernon. He arrived on 28 December 1615 by the Crest Trail (chemin des cr�tes).

By Letters Patent dated March 1622, Villebois was established as a duchy under the name of Lavalette. So from then onwards, the town took the name Villebois-Lavalette.

The Duke of Navaille purchased the ch�teau in 1660 and rebuilt a princely castle. Only one wall was kept of the original fortress.

During the French Revolution, the ch�teau was besieged and damaged. It became an army food storage supply centre and prison. After the revolution it became the main prison for several surrounding departments.

In 1822, a fire destroyed half of the ch�teau. Only the north wing and a few sections of the outside wall survived. It was then used as a school until 1912.

From 1914 to 1998, it was owned by the Fleurry family who then sold it in 1998 to a Mr Torres.

It has been partially restored and is now open for visits from May to September.

In the centre of the old town, there is an old wooden covered market that dates back to the 16th century. It was restored in the 19th century and is now an historic monument.

There is a small, but lively market every Saturday morning. A 17th century sundial can be seen on a house that overlooks the market hall.

The town is a reasonably small one with two boulangeries, a tourism office, a large supermarket, cafe, hotel and restaurant, among other businesses.

Villebois-Lavalette lies 24 km from Angoul�me, which is accessed by D.81 or D.23 and then D.939. Open for visits from May to September.

SPECIAL SECTION

CH�TEAU DE LOCHES

The Ch�teau de Loches is of significant interest to me. Our ancestor, Jean-Louis de Nogaret de la Valette, the 1st duc d'Epernon, did not own the Ch�teau de Loches, but it was here that he died in 1688. He was at one time the Governor of Loches.

Loches is one of the most historic places in France, with strong connections to Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc), Agn�s Sorel, and Anne of Brittany. The Ch�teau of Loches also has a dungeon of horrible renown.

I planned my first trip to the Ch�teau of Loches in 1995 due to an interest in all three of the above women. I took my daughters, Emily and Lisa, to this castle, as well as to the Ch�teau of Langeais, which also has association with Anne of Brittany.

I visited Loches again in 1998, when I took a small tour group to France. We also visited other castles associated with Kings Charles VII and VIII and Anne (e.g., Amboise, Blois, Chinon).

My Discovery

About two months ago, I learned that our Epperson genealogy leads back - through duc d'�pernon - to the Ch�teau of Loches.

As can be read in my family page on the duc d'�pernon, his career was studded with many troubles through a succession of French kings of different religious persuasions. This was during the War of Religions and religious sentiments (and emotions) ran high. Ultimately, in 1634, due to a deteriorating relationship with Henri de Sourdis (brother and successor of Cardinal Fran�ois de Sourdis), there was a public altercation in which the duc d'�pernon struck de Sourdis. �pernon was disgraced and exiled.

Under a quasi house arrest at his Ch�teau de Plassac, he was ultimately ordered to leave there and go (or retire) to the Ch�teau de Loches. And there, in January 1642, at the age of 88, he died.

I was struck by this knowledge. I began to remember my visits to Loches. Why would I return there three times? I've visited no other ch�teaux even twice.

The place was never crowded. I've had the time and quiet within its walls to sit in the stone window alcoves and reflect on the past inhabitants of the place, to feel the rooms, to imagine them as they might have been with rugs, tapestries, furniture, ... and people. And I recall specifically a melancholy that was on me when I've lingered in the rooms. They are sparsely furnished and not as appealing as rooms in other ch�teaux. Was it the history of Jeanne d�Arc, Agn�s Sorel, and Anne de Bretagne that drew me to return? Was it the mystery of Agn�s Sorel's tomb in the middle of the room that fascinated? Was it the dungeon and the horrible stories of tortured lives? Could have been all of that.

Then I was reminded of a belief I entertain, that our bodies have in them DNA "memory" more than just hair color, body shape, and personality traits. I really believe that to some degree that is what has drawn me there again and again.