Over the last couple of years of driving up and down the 936 to Bordeaux, mainly on airport runs, I’ve caught alluring glimpses of the Château de Camarsac’s machicolations.  The Château is open to the public, and I promised myself that one day I’d actually make the time to stop there.  This Easter I was finally able to do so.  Having dropped my father at Merignac for his flight back to Cyprus I went into Bordeaux to deal with the bank (incidentally, this was a wasted trip, but never mind) and thence out through Cernon to Camarsac.

The driveway to the Château de Camarsac isn’t the best, so I took it very gently, being mindful of the cost of repairing the car!  A large pair of gates let onto a large courtyard, where there was space to park.  At the top of the farm yard, closest to the Château, was a building that had been converted into a shop and reception area so I made my way there and asked if it was possible to visit.  The young lady who welcomed me advised that I was welcome to walk around the grounds but the Château itself was not open.  I accepted her kind offer to give me a brief guided tour and the flier she gave me for a “Portes Ouvertes” the following Sunday.  I thought that a drive to Camarsac would be something that my mother would enjoy and suggested this when I returned home.

Sadly, I had misunderstood the meaning of Portes Ouverte …..I had thought that it meant an open house, which it does – after a fashion.  However, it didn’t mean that we’d actually be able to go around the Château’s interior …. something that we didn’t discover until we had driven the 50km back to Camarsac!  Oh, well.  Boobed again!  What we could do was a self-guided walk around the grounds and vineyeards with the aid of a leaflet (written in French, of course) followed by a tasting and the opportunity to bottle for oneself their Classic cuvee.

We were guided around the walls of the Château by the same young lady who had taken me around a few days previously and then Graham, Robin & I set off to walk the route while my mother returned to the farm yard to sit in the sun and people-watch.  It was a lovely day for it, and we got the gist of most of what was written in the leaflet (my rubbish pocket Harrap French-English dictionary didn’t have the words we didn’t know).

While it all looks good from a distance the Château is largely in a sorry state of disrepair.  Built for the Black Prince in the 12th century the original four-square tower is imposing, but largely unused …. apparently it was badly damaged by fire a long time ago and there haven’t been the funds necessary to renovate it.  Thus the current owners reside in a wing that was added to the southern facade  during the 1800s.  This too is showing signs of needing major TLC.

In spite of the inability to tour the interior of the Chateau, it was still a nice run out.  Inevitably the tasting led to some purchases, and we loaded 4 half-cases of wine in the boot for the return to Sainte-Foy-La-Grande – 2 for us & 2 for my parents.  On the way home I suggested that we take a detour through Cabara, where there is a little bar that overlooks the Dordogne, and have a beer (or two).  Neither Graham nor Robin took any persuading! If you’re in the Entre-Deux-Mers area why not drop in?  I’m sure that you’ll enjoy it.  Here’s a link to their web site.  www.camarsac.com