Château de Vayres

The Château de Vayres is a castle on the banks of the Dordogne River with medieval fortifications that were later expanded with Renaissance elements and 17th-century structures. The buildings display different building styles from various periods visibly layered on top of each other.

The castle arose in the 11th century as a defensive fortress for Bordeaux and is documented through written evidence from 1092 confirming its stone construction and wooden palisades. Over the following centuries it was repeatedly rebuilt and reinforced.

The name reflects the family that once governed the region, and the gardens today still show a medieval herb-growing layout alongside formal French beds. Visitors can see how this place served for centuries as a space for growing plants used in medicine and cooking.

The castle is open from April through October and offers guided tours in multiple languages, with the best time to visit being morning or early afternoon. The grounds can be explored on foot and are accessible to most visitors without major difficulty.

The forest around the castle shelters rare plant species such as estuarine angelica and fritillaria that are not normally found in this region. These plants thrive there because of the special soil conditions and proximity to the river.

Location: Vayres

Website: http://chateaudevayres.com

GPS coordinates: 44.90028,-0.31639

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:42