Château de Monbazillac — Attraction in Bergerac

I live 5km from Monbazillac and have been bringing friends and family for 7 years and visiting since the late '90s. Entry to the grounds used to be free, entry to the chateau was €7. The tastings were generous and friendly and one could taste and compare reds, whites and Monbazillacs from different years. Monbazillac also allowed free entry to residents via the B for You scheme which allows people living here free entry for bringing paying guests. We brought many friends over the years who always bought a number of bottles plus other things from the shop. Over the last few years, a great deal of work has been done on a new visitor centre. I realise that this need to be paid for, but the cost is now €11 per person to enter the grounds. This also includes the chateau which is not really worth the inside visit as it is empty of any of the scene setting furnishings one light expect, with the occasional piece of art work, and no multi lingual explanations (unlike the excellent visitor centre). For only €13.50 you can see nearby Chateau Milandes, an amazing place, home to the late Josephine Baker, beautifully furnished with an incredible historic significance. Worse, though, is that the €11 entrance fee includes only one wine in the tasting.For €16 you can have a tasting of three wines, one red, one white and one Monbazillac, so there is no point of comparison for each type. So, not really a degustation at all. There are many, many places nearby where you can taste different years of Monbazillac and make an informed choice when you purchase (and the same with local reds and whites). We usually have between 8 and 10 sets of couples visiting a year, but will no longer be bringing them due to the cost (to us too) and the meanness of the degustation. This will lose the chateau up to €160 a year plus any purchases our visitors might have made post degustation. I am not the only local to be disappointed and we have no answers for or friends who are baffled that they can only taste one red, one white and one sweet wine. The staff used to be so helpful and knowledgable about the different sweetnesses etc, but now you are rushed though with just one of each. Finally, we were told that, as residents, we could get an annual pass for €15 with unlimited entries. This seems a solution of sorts, but, with typical Monbazillac meanness, this pass does not entitle you to a "tasting". If the managers had a little more faith in their product, allowed a proper tasting and free entry to the grounds (where the little cafe must be suffering as you can't just go for lunch any more without paying to enter the grounds) they would win many more local visitors. As it is, many of us are taking our...

We recently visited Monbazillac Château for a tour and wine tasting (€43). The lady at the reception was very kind and welcoming, and the tour with the tasting itself was enjoyable. However, our experience at the restaurant beforehand left us quite disappointed.

Before the tasting started, we wanted to sit down with our children and simply have a drink at the restaurant. When I asked if we could sit, a man working there responded very oddly, with a confusing “yes, no, yes”, and then asked in broken English if I had a booking. I explained that I had just booked the tour and tasting, and only wanted to order some drinks before it began. He refused and told me I had to go back to the shop at the entrance to book this, which made no sense.

After walking back, the lady in the shop was very friendly but also surprised by the situation. She apologized repeatedly, though she could not help further and sent me back to the reception. The receptionist was also shocked by the story, confirming that of course we should have been able to sit down and order drinks. She immediately called the restaurant, and only then were we finally allowed to sit and order.

Back at the restaurant, I expressed my dissatisfaction to the man, pointing out that he had sent me back and forth for nothing. Instead of acknowledging this, he just laughed it off strangely and said very little, leaving a female staff member (who was friendly) to take our order. The whole incident gave me the impression that he either had a very bad day or simply does not understand what hospitality means. It was not busy at all, yet he acted as if he had no control over the situation.

My advice to the management: please have a serious conversation with this staff member and consider proper hospitality training. Otherwise, more guests will have the same negative experience.

Overall, the wine tasting was fun, but the château itself was nothing particularly special, and this incident left a bitter aftertaste to what should have been a smooth and...

Well worth a visit! Stunning fairy tale of a chateau with lovely vinyard to explore. Entry allows you access to a very informative and interesting self-guided tour through the history of wine making and the life of a vineyard. You can then visit the fascinating chateau. Here the story of the family who owned the chateau at the time of the French Revolution is revealed. You walk through 3 rooms, which at first may look sparse, but they actually represent 3 different pivotal events in the lives of the family. There are sound tracks playing in each room where the different characters are portrayed discussing and debating their views around the challenges facing the monarchy and the possible changes that any new republic may bring. Most is in French; if your French is rusty, with a bit of patience and with the help of Google translate, the information on the walls explains it well. After the chateau you can explore the grounds and have lunch in the reasonably priced cafe. You can then finish your visit with a wine tasting session and you even get to take your glass home with you. A good few hours out but best early in the morning if it’s going to be hot as not much shade....