Château de Briord

Château de Briord is a limestone castle in Port-Saint-Père surrounded by deep moats crossed by an access bridge. The building has protected facades, roofs, and an iron-railed staircase inside, while the entire property spans 53 hectares with forests, gardens, orchards, and agricultural land.

The castle was built in 1770 by Joseph Charette de Briord on the site of a medieval lordship that once held judicial powers. The construction represented a shift toward modern residential design during the late 18th century.

The estate takes its name from its founder and shows how a large property functioned as both home and working farm for a wealthy family. The forests and fields surrounding the residence reveal how such households managed their resources and daily lives across the grounds.

Visitors can tour the castle only through arranged visits organized by the local tourism office, as it remains a private residence. Advance booking is necessary since access is limited and depends on owner availability.

The castle earned recognition at the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris for its interior decoration, which has remained largely unchanged since then. This award shows how the interior design was valued as fine art, even though the exterior presents a more austere appearance.