Château de La Salle
CastleHidden Treasure
Nestled amongst the vineyards of the Sauternais, this 15th–16th century Gascon manor house displays its main dwelling flanked by a polygonal spiral staircase tower, a striking example of the regional manorial style of the Bordelais.
History
In the heart of the Sauternes region, between golden vineyards and pine forests, Château de La Salle in Pujols-sur-Ciron is a remarkably sober example of the manorial architecture of late medieval Gascony. Far removed from the glitz and glamour of the great châteaux of Gironde, it captivates visitors with its raw authenticity and the coherence of its volumes, typical of the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. What really sets La Salle apart is the purity of its composition: a main dwelling articulated around a polygonal tower above ground level housing a spiral staircase, a recurring motif but here executed with particular elegance. The tower, which protrudes slightly from the façade, gives structure to the building and gives it the instantly recognisable silhouette of the fortified houses of medieval Bordeaux. The small entrance pavilion on the south-west side, adjoining the dwelling like a piece of architectural politeness, testifies to the concern for hierarchical access without excessive ostentation. Two wings flank the main building, extending its ends in a slight U-shape: one dates back to the 16th/17th century, the other was rebuilt in the 19th century, giving the château that blend of temporal strata that the art historian learns to decipher like a stone palimpsest. The disappearance of the outbuildings and defensive features during the 19th century, while depriving the site of its full silhouette, means that the dwelling can now be seen in all its clarity. The setting adds to the emotion of the visit: Pujols-sur-Ciron is a wine-growing commune in the Sud-Gironde, on the borders of the Sauternes and Graves appellations. Vines as far as the eye can see, the golden light of autumn afternoons, the silence of the countryside - the whole picture is one of absolute serenity. Lovers of discreet rural heritage, far from the tourist crowds, will find this an ideal stopover.
Architecture
Château de La Salle belongs to the well-identified type of fortified house or manor house built in Gascony in the 15th-16th centuries, of which the Gironde region has several outstanding examples. Its layout comprises a main rectangular building with a polygonal tower above and a small entrance pavilion on the south-west side. Two wings extend from the ends of the dwelling, forming a roughly U-shaped layout opening onto a courtyard of honour. The most distinctive feature is undoubtedly the polygonal tower on the façade of the main dwelling. It houses a spiral staircase, a vertical device typical of late medieval architecture, which served the different levels of the residence independently. The polygonal design - rather than the earlier round tower - heralds the Renaissance inflections that began to permeate regional architecture at the turn of the 16th century. The small entrance pavilion, attached to the south-west façade, is an elegant way of welcoming and representing visitors, giving them a sense of hierarchy as they cross the threshold without having to resort to the pomp and circumstance of a large monumental door. The materials used are those of regional construction: local limestone quarried in the Bordeaux region, with its golden or whitish hue typical of Gironde manor houses. The steeply pitched roofs, typical of the Atlantic climate and the period of construction, complete the silhouette. The north-west wing, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, is consistent with the main dwelling, while the 19th-century south-east wing features later details. The whole reveals the patient superimposition of building layers over more than four centuries.
Related Figures
Jean de la Salle — premier seigneur documenté, vassal du roi d'Angleterre en 1205Henri II Plantagenêt — suzerain de la Guyenne dont dépendait le fief au Moyen ÂgeAliénor d'Aquitaine — dont le mariage avec Henri II intégra la Guyenne dans l'espace angevinSeigneurs de la Salle (fin XVe siècle) — reconstructeurs du logis actuel après les ruines de la guerre de Cent AnsPropriétaires du XIXe siècle — responsables des transformations et de la reconstruction de l'aile sud-est
