Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Balac Castle finds its origins in a noble house mentioned in the 14th century, although the present building was completely rebuilt in 1776. This rectangular, Chartreuse-style building is distinguished by its horseshoe staircase at the front and a straight staircase at the back. It was flanked by two square towers, and to the west it housed the cellars and cellars, and in the east it housed the employees. The interior architecture, organized in pieces in thread around a central corridor, reflects the cannons of the era.

The agricultural outbuildings and the main home are attributed to architect Victor Louis, active in the region in the mid-18th century. The estate, enclosed with walls, originally consisted of a pleasant garden in front of the facade and a garden at the back, illustrating the balance between residential and winemaking functions. Agricultural buildings, partially renovated at the beginning of the 4th quarter of the 19th century, complete this coherent set. The castle, its facades, its roofs, as well as the entrance hall and the wall (excluding swimming pool) were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 25 October 2011, highlighting their heritage value.

The location accuracy of the monument is considered passable (note 5/10), with an approximate address at 3 Chateau Ballac in Saint-Laurent-Médoc. The site, although protected, does not have up-to-date information on its accessibility to the public (visits, rentals, or accommodation). Available sources (Monumentum, Mérimée base) confirm its anchoring in the girondin wine landscape, marked by the influence of the Chartreuses Bordeauxes of the eighteenth century.

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