Château de La Rivière, Medieval castle and wine estate in La Rivière, France
Château de La Rivière is a limestone castle on a hilltop above the Dordogne, surrounded by vineyards, gardens, and forest across roughly 65 hectares. Today it operates as a winery, hotel, and guesthouse where visitors can stay among the vines.
A fortress was built on this site in 769, but the current castle was built in 1577 under Gaston de L'Isle. The structure and its role as a wine estate have developed since then and continue to define the area.
The estate has been linked to winemaking for centuries and shapes the landscape through its vineyards and how visitors experience daily production here. The grapes grow across multiple parcels surrounding the castle, and the land clearly shows how central wine is to this place.
Visitors can take their time exploring the grounds, viewing the vineyards, and using lodging options available directly on the property. The location above the Dordogne provides good orientation, and it helps to know in advance that the place operates both as a working winery and as an overnight destination.
The castle contains an extensive network of underground limestone caves used for wine storage conditions. These natural tunnels maintain consistent coolness inside, which is important for the wine to age properly.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.