Château de Montmelas

Château de Montmelas is a historic fortified castle and working wine estate in the Beaujolais region of France, located on a rocky promontory above the commune of Montmelas-Saint-Sorlin in the Rhône department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The site commands a wide view over the Rhône valley and, on clear days, as far as Mont Blanc. Its name derives from the Latin mons malatus, meaning a mount laden with fruit, a reference to the apple and other fruit trees of the area. The estate is both a heritage monument and a commercial wine domaine. Under the brand Marquis de Montmelas, it produces and sells Beaujolais wines, and visitors can taste the wines and learn about vinification on site. Beyond wine, the château operates as a hospitality and events venue: it offers gîtes (self-catering holiday cottages) within the castle grounds, and can be privatised for professional events and celebrations. A 20-hectare wooded park, ramparts, a keep and a cour d'honneur form the setting. The castle's history is closely tied to that of Beaujolais. The site was occupied early by the Sires de Beaujeu, who gave their name to the region, and a stone building was erected between the 10th and 12th centuries. A castle is mentioned as early as 977. Rebuilt in the 13th or 14th century, it was extensively remodelled over the centuries, most notably after 1828 by the Lyon architect Louis Dupasquier, a contemporary of Viollet-le-Duc, who worked from a 17th-century drawing to restore a complete medieval fortress aesthetic in a neo-Gothic spirit. Surviving medieval elements include a cylindrical keep dominating a quadrangular curtain wall with corner turrets and a large walled basse-cour. The property has passed through many hands, including the Beaujeu, Bourbon, Albon, Arod de Montmelas, Tournon-Simiane, Chabannes La Palice and Durat families. It today belongs to the d'Harcourt family. The château is a private property that is open to visitors. On 29 June 2000, a broad ensemble — the facades and roofs of the castle, outbuildings, towers, porches and chapel, the castral enclosure, the garden, courtyards, the 'panthéon', the kitchen garden and its structures, the cuvage (wine-making building), and the entire park with its enclosing wall and entrance gates, together with the hydraulic system — was inscribed as a monument historique.

The history of Château de Montmelas is intimately linked to that of Beaujolais. The site was occupied early by the Sires de Beaujeu, the family that gave the region its name, and a branch of the Beaujeu family may even have originated from the Seigneurie de Montmelas. The Sires de Beaujeu installed a garrison at Montmelas to defend the southern part of their territory. Built on a rocky spur overlooking the whole region, the garrison enjoyed a strategic defensive position. Between the 10th and 12th centuries, a stone building was erected; traces of this period survive, notably wall sections with 'herringbone' stonework characteristic of constructions from the 10th to 12th centuries. A castle is mentioned as early as 977. In the 11th century the stronghold belonged to the Sires de Beaujeu. In 1331 the owner was Jeanne de Châteauvillain, third wife of Guichard VI de Beaujeu. In 1520 the fief belonged to Anne de France, Duchess of Bourbon, daughter of Louis XI and widow of Pierre de Bourbon, sire de Beaujeu. Their daughter, Suzanne de Bourbon, married the Constable of Bourbon. The Bourbons sold the seigneurie to Philibert de Crozet; his widow resold the fief to Philibert d'Albon Beaujeu, baron de Lignières. The property later passed to Louis de Gonzague, Duke of Nevers, husband of Henriette de Clèves. Jean Arod, husband of Barbe de Signolles, acquired the château in 1566 at auction. In 1593 Jean Arod was killed while repelling an attack against his castle. In 1654 Guillaume Arod was seigneur de Montmelas. François Arod (1716–1752), marquis de Montmelas, married Marguerite de Cuzieu. In 1766 their eldest son, Blaise, marquis de Montmelas, married Marguerite-Catherine Haynault, a mistress of Louis XV; she remained at Montmelas until her death in 1823. During the Revolution, Gaspard de Montmelas, Blaise's younger brother, was imprisoned in Lyon; a delegation of villagers set out to free him. On his death in 1837, Agnès Louise, widow of Gaspard d'Arod, comte de Montmelas, and a natural and recognised daughter of Louis XV and Catherine Haynault, left the estate to her great-granddaughter, Louise Hélène Léonie de Tournon Simiane (1829–1899), wife of Philippe, comte de Tournon-Simiane. The castle was profoundly remodelled over the centuries, notably in the 19th century after 1828 by Louis Dupasquier, a Lyon architect contemporary with Viollet-le-Duc, working from a 17th-century drawing. The works aimed to restore a complete medieval fortress, in a neo-Gothic aesthetic. In 1906, Louise Hélène Françoise de Tournon-Simiane, daughter of the previous owners, married Jean Victurnien Jacques de Chabannes La Palice. In 1962, Jacqueline Léonie Marie de Chabannes La Palice (1896–1982), their daughter and wife of Jehan, comte de Durat, inherited it. The château then passed to her eldest daughter, Françoise de Durat, wife of comte Henri d'Harcourt. The estate today belongs to the d'Harcourt family. The property is a wine domaine. The château de Montmelas is a private property, open to visitors. The facades and roofs of the château, outbuildings, towers, porches and chapel, the castral enclosure, the garden, the courtyards, the 'panthéon', the kitchen garden and its built elements, the cuvage, and the entire park with its enclosing wall and the facades and roofs of the two entrance gates, as well as the whole hydraulic system, were inscribed as monuments historiques by decree of 29 June 2000.

• 2000

  On 29 June 2000, the castle ensemble and park are inscribed as monuments historiques.

• 1962

  Jacqueline Léonie Marie de Chabannes La Palice inherits the estate.

• 1906

  Louise Hélène Françoise de Tournon-Simiane marries Jean Victurnien Jacques de Chabannes La Palice.

• 1828

  After 1828, the Lyon architect Louis Dupasquier extensively remodels the castle in a neo-Gothic spirit.

• 1766

  Blaise, marquis de Montmelas, marries Marguerite-Catherine Haynault, a mistress of Louis XV.

• 1593

  Jean Arod is killed repelling an attack on his castle.

• 1566

  Jean Arod acquires the château at auction.

• 1520

  The fief belongs to Anne de France, Duchess of Bourbon.

• A castle is mentioned at Montmelas.

• Between the 10th and 12th centuries, a stone building is erected on the site; herringbone stonework survives.

• In the 11th century the stronghold belongs to the Sires de Beaujeu.

• The owner is Jeanne de Châteauvillain, third wife of Guichard VI de Beaujeu.

A heritage castle estate in Beaujolais combining wine production under the Marquis de Montmelas brand with wine tourism, gîtes and private event hosting.

• Marquis de Montmelas wines

  Beaujolais wines produced by the estate and offered for tasting and sale.

• Gîtes du château

  Self-catering holiday cottages available within the castle grounds.

• Event hosting

  Privatisation of the château for professional events and celebrations.

1. 1Chateau de Montmelas | Vins / Gites / Evenementschateaudemontmelas.fr
2. 2Château de Montmelas — Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Château de Montmelas — Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org