Château de la Motte, Historical château in Bardigues, France

Château de la Motte is an 18th-century château in Bardigues, built on the foundations of an earlier logis. Its central seven-bay block is crowned by triangular pediments with two pots à feu each, flanked by two pavilions raised one level higher, giving an H-shaped plan under false flat-tiled roofs. A wrought-iron gate bearing the d'Esparbès de Lussan arms opens between stone pillars toward the cour d'honneur, separated from two symmetrical service wings by water-filled moats.

The foundations of this place date to the 14th century, though the current building was constructed during the 18th century. The Goth family acquired the estate in the early 1300s and maintained influence over the property through the centuries.

The rooms contain decorative elements spanning two centuries, with wooden wall panels, ornamental plasterwork, and colorful tiles reflecting different tastes from the 1700s and 1800s. Walking through reveals how families lived and chose to decorate their private spaces during these periods.

Planning your visit works best when you allow time to explore the outdoor areas and surrounding woodland, which spread across the grounds. Access to the main residence is limited and depends on specific opening times or special arrangements.

One family has lived at and cared for this estate since the early 1920s, creating remarkable continuity in how it has been maintained. Such long unbroken ownership by a single family remains rare for historical estates of this scale.