Château de La Brède

Park, Registered monuments and sites

The edifice was built in the 14th century over the ruins of an earlier castle and underwent several redesigns and refurbishments over the next 500 years or so. Nevertheless, the château has retained its character as a medieval fortress, not least because of the impressive moat that surrounds it.

Get to know Montesquieu (1689-1755)
Charles Louis de Secondat, better known as Montesquieu, was born in the château of La Brède in 1689. Throughout his life, Montesquieu returned again and again to La Brède, to relax and to work, and it is here that he wrote a large part of his work, including The Persian Letters (1721) and The Spirit of Laws (1748).
The interior tour invites visitors to follow the writer’s footsteps, through the iconic rooms in which he worked, including his library and his bedroom, which has been preserved in the style of the 18th century. Meanwhile, the chapel, dining room and living rooms showcase remarkable collections of furniture amassed by the family over time.

A remarkable park
In the heart of a large, forested estate, Montesquieu laid out a large formal garden, featuring a grove with walkways radiating from it in a star shape. Upon returning from his tour of Europe (1728-1731), he transformed part of his park into an English-style landscaped garden.
Montesquieu had a keen interest in how his land was managed. He not only planted vineyards, but he also got involved in logging and had a farm built close to the château. Throughout his life, the writer endeavoured to ensure that La Brède was a model farming operation.