Château de Rapetour

Château de Rapetour is a castle in Theizé featuring three levels of galleries with Renaissance elements and a central courtyard designed with Italian influences. The structure sits within working vineyards and displays stone construction with a coherent architectural design typical of its region and period.

The castle developed through multiple construction phases spanning three centuries, with major changes occurring in the 14th, 16th, and 18th centuries. Each phase reflects the architectural preferences and needs of its time, showing how the building adapted and evolved over the centuries.

The castle functions as a working winery today, producing Beaujolais wine that reflects generations of local tradition. This connection between the building and the vineyards surrounding it shapes how visitors experience the place, blending its past with present-day agricultural life.

Access to the castle requires joining a guided tour, as it operates as a working winery. Comfortable walking shoes are helpful since the grounds are situated on slopes, and visitors interested in seeing more often explore both the building and surrounding vineyard terrain.

The castle's distinctive three-tiered gallery design mirrors architectural styles found in old Lyon, a connection many visitors overlook. This parallel reveals how design trends traveled across the region, influencing both grand estates and city buildings during the same period.

Location: Theizé

GPS coordinates: 45.93800,4.60861

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:26