Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château Pichon, located in Parempuyre en Gironde, was rebuilt in 1881 by architect Michel-Louis Garros for Eugene Durand, after a fire ravaged the old 14th century building. The neo-Renaissance style is inspired by the Loire castles, combining corner towers, irregular pavilions and carved decorations. Inside, a wooded vestibule and a dining room decorated with a ceramic Sèvres fireplace signed Dammouse reflect the eclectic period.

In 1893, the estate was sold to Philippe Durand-Dassier and his sisters, including Louise, wife of Frédéric Cruse, a wine dealer. Wine production is then shared between the heirs, giving rise to two brands: Château Parempuyre (Durand-Dassier) and Château de Parempuyre (Cruse). Despite medium quality wines, rated between 325 and 500 francs at the time, the estate retained sufficient prestige to be classified as superior bourgeois in 1932.

Acquired in 1976 by Clément Fayat, a BTP entrepreneur, the castle was renamed Clément-Pichon in 1985 in tribute to his family and his wife. Fayat modernizes the 25-hectare vineyard, planted in merlot (62%), cabernet sauvignon (33%) and cabernet franc (5%), and makes it an Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois. Architecture, for its part, remains a testimony of the eclectic taste of the Bordeaux Protestant bourgeoisie of the late 19th century.

The castle has been listed as historical monuments since 16 June 2000 for its facades, roofs and ground floor. Its history illustrates the links between architectural heritage, viticulture and social dynamics in Médoc, between aristocratic decline and bourgeois ascent.

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