Framed by rolling Bordeaux vineyards and crowned by a meticulously restored chartreuse, Château Prieuré Marquet offers one of the region’s most evocative blends of history, hospitality and wine. This discreet Bordeaux Supérieur estate just north of Saint Emilion has quietly become a destination in its own right, where guests can sleep among the vines, taste estate wines at their source and discover a very contemporary take on château life in rural France.
Where Is Château Prieuré Marquet and Why It Matters
Château Prieuré Marquet sits in Saint Martin du Bois, in the northern part of the Bordeaux wine region, within the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. It lies roughly 50 kilometers from Bordeaux and around 20 kilometers from Saint Emilion, which makes it an easy escape for travelers pairing city breaks with vineyard getaways. This location is important because it places the property in a quieter, more rural slice of Bordeaux, away from the busier classified growths of the Médoc and the tourist crowds around central Saint Emilion.
The surrounding landscape is classically Bordelais, with gently undulating hills lined with vine rows and punctuated by woodland and a small lake. On clear days, the estate’s elevated position delivers wide open views over vineyards that change dramatically with the seasons. Spring brings bright green leaves and the first shoots, summer ripens the grapes under long days of sun, autumn cloaks the hillsides in russet and gold, while winter strips the vines back to bare, sculptural lines.
Accessibility is another advantage. Bordeaux’s international airport and high speed rail connections are close enough for quick transfers yet far enough that, once you arrive at the château, the city feels a world away. For golfers, several established courses sit within about 30 kilometers, turning the property into a practical base for combining wine, countryside and sport without long drives each day.
The sense of retreat is part of the appeal. Unlike some large, highly commercial estates, Château Prieuré Marquet remains intimate in scale, with a limited number of rooms and extensive grounds that ensure guests can always find a quiet corner by the pool, at the edge of the lake or on a terrace looking across the vines. Its location is close enough to Bordeaux’s headline wineries for day trips, yet remote enough to feel like a true hideaway at night.
A Brief History of Château Prieuré Marquet
The origins of Château Prieuré Marquet stretch back to the 15th century, when a chartreuse style country house first stood on this land. Over the centuries, like many Bordeaux properties, it passed through different owners and phases of prosperity, with the vineyard and buildings evolving in step with the region’s wine fortunes. The name itself hints at monastic roots, a reminder that religious institutions long played a role in shaping the vineyards of Bordeaux.
In the modern era, the château fell into relative obscurity compared with Bordeaux’s better known classified growths. Its transformation into a high end guesthouse and wine destination is a phenomenon of the last decade, part of a broader movement that has seen family estates across the region open their doors to overnight guests rather than limiting visits to short tastings. Under current ownership the property has undergone extensive restoration, bringing contemporary design and comfort into dialogue with thick stone walls, exposed beams and traditional tile roofs.
Today visitors will still find the architectural core of the old chartreuse carefully preserved. Facades remain elegantly symmetrical, and many period elements, from wooden staircases to rustic fireplaces, have been restored rather than replaced. Yet the interiors avoid becoming a museum. Contemporary lighting, modern furniture and carefully chosen artworks allow the house to feel lived in and current, not stuck in the past.
This balance of heritage and modernity mirrors what is happening in the cellar. While the wines of Château Prieuré Marquet fall under the broad Bordeaux Supérieur umbrella, the estate has invested in up to date equipment, meticulous vineyard work and more precise vinification to raise quality. The result is a property that acknowledges its long story yet feels unmistakably tailored to the expectations of twenty first century travelers.
Architecture, Design and Atmosphere
The first impression on arrival is of a classic French country château fronted by a gravel courtyard and framed by low stone walls and centuries old trees. Step inside, however, and Château Prieuré Marquet reveals a more eclectic and playful personality than its formal exterior might suggest. The owners have deliberately avoided a purely traditional aesthetic, instead curating a mix of period pieces, designer furniture and quirky touches.
Many public rooms feature generously high ceilings, original stone or terracotta floors and windows that frame vineyard views. Against this historical backdrop stand modern light fixtures, sleek sofas and bold artworks that shift the mood from stately to relaxed. A billiards room, with direct access from some guest rooms, underlines the property’s focus on conviviality rather than formality. Guests are encouraged to treat the château as a home, not simply as a hotel.
Perhaps the most photographed detail is the Fiat 500 lounge, named for the vintage Italian car that sits inside the dining space as a centerpiece rather than in a garage. This unexpected object, along with other classic vehicles available for transfers and short drives, signals that the estate takes elegance seriously but allows itself a sense of humor. It is a reminder that wine travel can be stylish without becoming stiff.
Outside, two heated pools, a hot tub and generous terraces invite guests to spend as much time under open skies as possible. Loungers face out to the vines, and paths lead through the estate’s woods down to a small lake used for picnics and quiet reflection. At night, subtle lighting traces the outlines of the house and pools, and on clear evenings the skies above the nearby forested hills remain surprisingly dark, making stargazing from a deck chair or hot tub a simple but memorable pleasure.
Inside the Rooms: Prestige and Exception Suites
Château Prieuré Marquet offers two broad categories of accommodation: Prestige rooms and Exception rooms. The Prestige rooms are slightly more intimate in scale yet share the same high level of comfort and individualized design as their larger counterparts. Names like Ugni Blanc and Merlot nod to local grape varieties, reminding guests that they are sleeping at the heart of a working wine estate rather than in an anonymous country hotel.
The Exception rooms, including Muscadelle, Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, are notably spacious, often exceeding 30 or even 40 square meters. High ceilings, large windows and carefully considered layouts make them feel more like private apartments than conventional hotel rooms. Design varies from one room to another. In one, a freestanding Corian bathtub stands dramatically in the center of the bedroom, turning a nightly soak into a small event. In another, a family sitting area with table and chairs encourages guests to linger over a bottle of house wine while watching the sun lower over the vines.
Across both categories, beds are king size with high quality Swiss mattresses and linens, while bathrooms feature modern fixtures, heated towel rails and walk in showers or large tubs. Air conditioning, flat screen televisions and complimentary wireless internet are standard. Many rooms face directly onto the vineyards, allowing guests to wake to rows of vines glowing in morning light or watch fog drift between the hills on cooler days.
Families are notably well considered. For children between three and sixteen, a dedicated dormitory space can be paired with certain rooms. This separate but adjacent bunk style space preserves privacy for parents while creating a novel experience for younger travelers, who can sleep together in their own corner of the château. For infants, cots can be added at no extra charge. These arrangements, combined with open outdoor space and the novelty of staying in a real château, make the property a rare high end Bordeaux address that is genuinely family friendly.
The Wines of Château Prieuré Marquet
While many travelers are drawn by the promise of sleeping in a château, the soul of Prieuré Marquet remains rooted in its vineyards and cellar. The estate belongs to the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation, which covers wines produced under stricter conditions than basic Bordeaux but without the highly specific village or cru classifications found in more famous subregions. This status gives the winemaking team a degree of freedom to craft approachable yet characterful reds that emphasize fruit and balance rather than sheer power.
The vineyard plantings follow a classic right bank pattern, with Merlot forming the backbone of many blends. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc typically provide structure, aromatic lift and aging potential, while smaller proportions of varieties like Petit Verdot may add color and spice. The precise percentages vary by cuvée and vintage, but the philosophy centers on producing wines that reflect the estate’s clay and limestone influenced soils and the moderate climate of this part of Bordeaux.
In the cellar, modern equipment sits alongside more traditional practices. Small capacity vats allow grapes from different parcels to be vinified separately, preserving their individual characters until the final blending stage. Temperature control during fermentation helps retain fresh fruit aromas and avoid harsh tannins. After fermentation, the wines spend a period in oak barrels, some of them new, to gain complexity and texture. The length of aging, typically up to a year or more, is calibrated to each wine and vintage.
The resulting reds tend to show ripe dark berry fruit, subtle spice and soft but present tannins. They are crafted to be pleasurable within a few years of harvest while capable of developing further depth with time in bottle. For visitors, the most compelling aspect is the chance to taste these wines on site, with vines visible through cellar windows and barrels resting just a short walk from the tasting glass. That physical connection between vineyard, cellar and table often deepens a drinker’s understanding of Bordeaux wines more effectively than any textbook.
Dining, Experiences and Things to Do
The culinary offering at Château Prieuré Marquet is designed around the idea that wine and food should be experienced together in a relaxed, generous environment. Rather than a formal, multi course fine dining restaurant, the estate operates a table d’hôtes concept, serving menus that change with the seasons and highlight ingredients sourced from nearby markets and producers. The emphasis falls on authentic flavors, well prepared, rather than on elaborate technique.
Meals are served in several distinct spaces. The rustic Guard Room, with its large fireplace and farmhouse table, evokes the atmosphere of a country kitchen where guests and hosts share dishes family style. The Sir Charles Room hosts breakfast and dinner, offering a more refined but still convivial setting. The Fiat 500 lounge adds a note of playful theater, with the vintage car creating an instantly recognizable focal point for photographs and aperitifs.
Beyond the table, the estate has developed a calendar of experiences that weave together wine, landscape and leisure. Classic guided visits introduce guests to the history of the château and its vineyards, finishing with tastings of the estate’s wines. Some experiences extend this with a picnic by the lake, including a cheese and charcuterie board and a bottle of house red. More immersive options may incorporate time among the vines, explanations of seasonal vineyard work or introductions to barrel aging in the chai.
On the property itself, two heated swimming pools and a hot tub invite relaxation between tastings. Walking paths through woods and around the lake provide a gentle way to start or end the day, and fishing is possible for those who prefer a quieter pastime. For a different perspective on the landscape, transfers or short circuits in vintage vehicles are available, from a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow to an old Willys Jeep, turning a simple drive into part of the experience.
Planning Your Stay: Practical Tips
Château Prieuré Marquet operates as a high end guesthouse with a limited number of rooms, so advance planning is essential, especially during the peak season from late spring through early autumn. Direct booking with the estate allows travelers to choose specific rooms, many of which differ significantly in layout and style. Rates vary by room type and season, with Prestige rooms generally representing the entry point and the largest Exception suites commanding higher nightly prices.
Check in typically begins in the late afternoon and continues into the evening, while check out is set for late morning. Guests arriving earlier in the day can usually leave luggage at reception and begin using outdoor spaces before their room is ready, subject to the team’s capacity on a given day. Because of the estate’s rural location, arriving by car is the most practical option for most travelers. Those without a vehicle can arrange transfers from Bordeaux or Saint Emilion, sometimes in one of the château’s classic cars for an additional touch of theater.
For families, it is important to discuss room configurations in advance, as only certain suites can accommodate the children’s dormitory or extra beds. The estate does not accept pets, and smoking is prohibited inside the château and guest rooms. These policies, combined with an enclosed car park and on site defibrillator, underscore a focus on safety and comfort alongside aesthetics.
Given the château’s countryside setting, it makes sense to plan at least one full day on site simply to enjoy the pools, grounds and cellar without rushing. Longer stays of three nights or more allow enough time to add day trips to nearby Saint Emilion, Blaye’s citadel, or the Médoc’s famous châteaux while always returning to the calmer rhythm of Prieuré Marquet in the evenings. In cooler months, when poolside lounging is less tempting, the emphasis shifts indoors to fireplaces, billiards, and more extended tastings, making autumn and winter quietly rewarding times to visit.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
To get the best from a stay at Château Prieuré Marquet, it helps to think of the estate not simply as a place to sleep but as a destination where different aspects of Bordeaux life intersect. Start by scheduling a guided tour and tasting early in your visit. Walking the vineyards and cellar with a member of the team gives context to every glass you will drink afterward, whether by the pool, at dinner or during an evening in the lounge.
Consider reserving at least one meal at the château’s table d’hôtes, especially on the night of arrival. After a travel day, being able to settle into a single address where the wines, ingredients and hospitality are all local can be deeply restorative. On subsequent days, explore nearby villages and restaurants, but return in time for a sunset swim or an aperitif on the terrace. Watching the sky change over the vines becomes one of the simplest and most memorable rituals of a stay.
Pack with the rural setting in mind. While certain public spaces and dinners can lean elegant, the overall atmosphere is relaxed, and comfortable clothing makes sense both for walking among the vines and lounging by the pools. A light jacket or wrap is useful for evenings even in summer, when temperatures can drop after sunset. In shoulder seasons, layers will allow you to move easily from warm, sunlit terraces to cooler cellars and shaded woodland paths.
Finally, leave space in your luggage or shipping allowance for wine. Tasting on site provides a rare chance to understand how Bordeaux Supérieur wines can reflect a single estate when carefully made, and bottles brought home serve as both souvenirs and ways to share the experience with friends. Whether you favor immediate drinking or cellaring, discussing options with the team at the end of your stay can turn your departure into the start of a longer relationship with the château.
The Takeaway
Château Prieuré Marquet brings together many of the elements that travelers seek in contemporary wine tourism: authentic history, thoughtfully renovated architecture, personalized hospitality and direct access to the vineyards and cellars that define the region. Its Bordeaux Supérieur status may lack the prestige of classified growth labels, but that very fact often translates into a more relaxed, personal and intimate experience for guests.
By staying here, visitors can do more than simply taste Bordeaux wines. They can watch vineyard workers move between the rows at dawn, follow grapes from vine to vat during harvest, and end the day with a glass of the estate’s own red by the pool or fireplace. The combination of pools, woodland paths, lake, classic cars and design driven interiors turns the château into a small, self contained world where time slows and daily routines revolve around light, weather and the next meal.
For travelers planning a broader Bordeaux itinerary, Château Prieuré Marquet works equally well as a base for exploration and as a destination in its own right. Whether you stay one night or several, the mix of old stones and contemporary comforts, serious wine and light hearted touches such as the Fiat 500 lounge, leaves a distinct impression. It is an address that shows how wine estates can honor tradition while offering a refreshingly modern vision of château life.
FAQ
Q1. Where is Château Prieuré Marquet located within the Bordeaux region?
Château Prieuré Marquet is in Saint Martin du Bois, in the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation, approximately 50 kilometers from Bordeaux and about 20 kilometers north of Saint Emilion, in a quiet rural area surrounded by vineyards and woodland.
Q2. What types of wines does the estate produce?
The estate focuses primarily on Bordeaux Supérieur red wines, based largely on Merlot with supporting roles from varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and sometimes Petit Verdot, emphasizing ripe fruit, balance and approachability.
Q3. What are the differences between Prestige and Exception rooms?
Prestige rooms are slightly more intimate in size but share the same high level of comfort as the Exception rooms. Exception rooms are larger, often featuring expansive floor space, higher ceilings, standout design elements such as freestanding bathtubs, and particularly impressive vineyard views.
Q4. Is Château Prieuré Marquet suitable for families with children?
Yes. Certain rooms can be paired with a dedicated children’s dormitory for guests aged three to sixteen, and cots are available at no extra cost for younger children. The spacious grounds, pools and relaxed atmosphere also appeal to families, though it remains a quiet, upscale environment.
Q5. Do I need a car to stay at the château?
Having a car is highly recommended, as the estate sits in a rural area and local attractions, villages and restaurants are spread out. Transfers from Bordeaux or Saint Emilion can be arranged, but a car offers the greatest flexibility for day trips and exploration.
Q6. What kind of dining experience can I expect on site?
The château offers a table d’hôtes style restaurant serving seasonal menus inspired by local produce. Dining spaces range from a rustic kitchen style Guard Room to a more formal Sir Charles Room and a playful lounge centered around a vintage Fiat 500, with an emphasis on generous, authentic flavors paired with estate wines.
Q7. How far in advance should I book a room?
Because the number of rooms is limited, it is wise to book several months ahead for stays between late spring and early autumn, especially if you prefer a particular room category or are traveling as a family. Shoulder season and winter dates may offer greater flexibility, though advance planning remains advisable.
Q8. What activities are available without leaving the property?
On site you can enjoy two heated pools, a hot tub, walks through vineyards and woodland, relaxation by the lake, fishing, billiards and, of course, guided tours and tastings of the estate’s wines. The quiet setting also makes it ideal for reading, stargazing and simply unwinding outdoors.
Q9. Are pets allowed at Château Prieuré Marquet?
No. Pets are not permitted in the guestrooms or within the château itself, a policy designed to protect the comfort of all guests and the integrity of the historic interiors.
Q10. What is the best time of year to visit?
Late spring through early autumn offers warm temperatures, pool weather and lush vineyards. Harvest season in early autumn adds extra energy and interest around the cellar, while winter and early spring provide a quieter, more contemplative atmosphere with lower visitor numbers and a focus on fireplaces, tastings and slow paced countryside walks.