Château d'Ampuis, Heritage castle in Ampuis, France

Château d'Ampuis is a former fortified house on the right bank of the Rhône in Ampuis, below the Côte-Rôtie vineyards. Of the original lower castle, two of the four round towers remain. The complex includes a chapel, a garden in front of the castle with a terrace retaining wall above the Rhône, and a belvedere. The entrance portal has antique columns and a pediment.

A Roman-era villa of Ampucius and a 7th-century Erchembert of Ampuis precede the fortified house first mentioned in the 14th century. In 1339 Pierre d'Ampuis paid homage to the lord of Roussillon for the Château-Bas and the maison forte of La Garde. The building was heavily remodelled in the 18th century; the Guigal wine family bought it in 1995 and restored it until 2006.

The name Ampuis derives from the Roman villa of Ampucius, recalled in the 1339 homage by Pierre d'Ampuis to the sire de Roussillon for the Château-Bas and the maison forte de La Garde. The estate passed through the Maugiron, Harenc de la Condamine, Cholier de Cibeins and Guigal families. Since 1995 it has housed the headquarters of E. Guigal, founded by Étienne Guigal, in the Côte-Rôtie vineyard.

The castle has been the head office of E. Guigal, the Côte-Rôtie wine house founded by Étienne Guigal, since 13 January 1995. It stands on the right bank of the Rhône in Ampuis, below the vineyard slopes. The listed parts are the castle, chapel, columned entrance portal with pediment, and the garden with its terrace wall above the Rhône and belvedere.

Of the original "château bas", only two of its four round towers remain; the "château haut" at the lieu-dit la Garde has disappeared entirely. The entrance portal, with its antique columns and pediment, is one of the elements listed as a monument historique since 22 July 1996.