Château de Malleret
CastleHidden Treasure
Château de Malleret, located in Cadaujac (Gironde), is a castle. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Castle
- Location
- Cadaujac, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.7635, -0.5142
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00083872
An eclectic Second Empire jewel nestling in the Cadaujac vineyards, Château de Malleret captivates visitors with its turreted silhouette and Hispano-Moorish parkland follies.
History
In the heart of the Graves region of Bordeaux, Château de Malleret stands as an architectural manifesto of Second Empire bourgeois ambition. Built between 1860 and 1869 on a site already occupied by an older residence, it brilliantly combines a taste for the picturesque, neoclassical rigour and Orientalist boldness that characterised the great private architecture of 19th-century France. The result is a coherent, generous ensemble that goes far beyond a simple residence to form a truly prestigious estate. What makes Malleret truly singular is not so much the main building - remarkable though it is with its three pavilions and turrets flanking the western façade - as the constellation of outbuildings that populate its surroundings. Wine storehouse, vat room, terraced belvedere, neoclassical metal greenhouse, caretaker's cottage, pond decorated with lions' heads: each element tells the story of an era when the art of country living was a discipline in its own right, cultivated with care and expense. The exotic Hispano-Moorish water tower alone is a rare architectural curiosity in the Gironde. As you approach, the attentive visitor will notice the spiral staircase with two converging flights leading up to the main door. Believed to predate the rest of the building, this feature bears witness to the continuity of the site and lends the residence added gravity. Lovers of formal gardens will find Malleret's park a carefully planned space whose landscaping reflects the horticultural theories in vogue under Napoleon III. The commune of Cadaujac, part of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, provides the château with a natural wine-growing setting that further enhances its character. The surrounding vineyards and the tranquillity of the Gironde countryside make Malleret a place where the history of industrial and bourgeois France can be read in the stone, brick and metal, with a discreet yet assertive elegance.
Architecture
Château de Malleret is fully in keeping with the eclectic style of the third quarter of the 19th century, characteristic of private architecture under Napoleon III. The main building is arranged around three pavilions: two end pavilions set at right angles to each other on the east facade, and a taller central pavilion on the west facade, flanked by two turrets that give it a lively, picturesque silhouette. The basement level, designed for service rooms, firmly anchors the composition in the tradition of large French country houses, while the main floor houses the reception and living quarters. The main entrance is provided by a winding staircase with two converging flights, an element that predates the rest of the building and has been carefully preserved, adding a touch of antiquity to the composition. The area around the château is a veritable museum of the utilitarian and decorative architecture of the period: the brick and stone wine storehouse and vat house illustrate the winegrowing architecture of the Gironde; the metal greenhouse, enclosed by a wall with neoclassical decoration, bears witness to the influence of the large iron and glass greenhouses popularised by the Universal Exhibitions; The Hispano-Moorish-style water tower is a unique piece, reminiscent of the great Orientalist follies of the 19th century. Finally, the belvedere with its terrace and the pond decorated with lion-headed basins complete a coherent and sumptuous landscape. The dominant materials, brick and ashlar, reflect the building practices of the Gironde region.
Related Figures
Armand Coureau — constructeur de navires bordelais, député de l'arrondissement de Libourne, maître d'ouvrage du château (1860-1869)Les artisans et maçons girondins — exécutants anonymes de l'ensemble architectural et paysager du domaineLes architectes éclectiques bordelais de la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle — courant dans lequel s'inscrit la conception de Malleret
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Château de Malleret located?
Château de Malleret is located in Cadaujac, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
Is Château de Malleret open to visitors?
Château de Malleret is currently closed to visitors.