Wherever I travel I seek out unique and luxurious accommodations, so after years of travelling it takes a great deal to dazzle me. Yet, my stay at Chateau de Mercues in southern France left me feeling like I had entered my own magical fairytale.
Staying at a chateau is one of my favourite ways to travel. Who doesn’t want to stay at a castle? Outstanding architecture, opulent decor, a rich history, and typically fantastic food too.
Chateau de Mercues, is located in Cahors which is famous for being the first producers of Malbec wine. The charming area is filled with vineyards, and beautiful countryside and Chateau de Mercues is situated overlooking its own vineyard.
The 13th-century medieval chateau is owned by the Vigouroux family and is remarkably well preserved. Today, Chateau de Mercues is a 24 room hotel that has a 1 star Michelin restaurant and it also is a working winery.
Without question, the highlight of my stay was dining at Le Dueze Restaurant in the chateau. Listed in the Michelin guide, Chef Julien Poisot features regional products such as saffron, duck, lamb and black truffles. The 100 seat restaurant also features local wines and plenty of bottles of wine produced by Chateau de Mercues.
For dinner, I had the pleasure of dining at the chef’s table where I enjoyed the table d’hote menu. Dining right in the heart of the kitchen is always a favorite of mine, as someone who loves to cooking watching the chefs prepare the intricate dishes is like dinner and a show. I also highly appreciated how Chef Julien Poisot took the time from his busy kitchen to talk to us about the dishes.
For all, you English travelers, fear not, throughout my visit I was able to get exceptional service in English. At dinner, the waiter was fluent in English, perfectly explaining each wine and dish and offering fantastic service. I hope this will put to ease any concerns you might have in traveling here even if you don’t speak French.
The other highlight of my visit was meeting the owner Mr. Vigouroux who invited me for a private wine tasting. Meeting Mr. Vigouroux was a huge honor, and I was delighted to try some of his wines.
At the wine tasting, I got to try Haute-Terre Albesco 2017, Chateau de Mercues 2014, Chateau de Mercues Cuvee 6666 2015 and Chateau de Haute Terre 2015. For all the tasting notes for each of the wines along with more information on how to buy them see here.
The wine tasting space is rather large, and while I was upstairs there was a steady stream of visitors doing wine tastings below. Even if you aren’t a guest of the chateau it is still possible to visit in the daytime to book a wine tasting. For further information on booking a wine tasting see here.
In addition to enjoying fantastic food and wine, Chateau de Mercues offers plenty to keep you entertained. There was a large pool, a lovely patio with a view of the surrounding vineyards, and tennis courts.
In terms of the accommodations, there are a variety of different rooms available, each with its own unique decor. My room was a massive room, with a grand canopy bed.
Breakfast was provided in the main restaurant and was a lovely breakfast buffet. There was a variety of bread, meats, cheeses, yogurt, and fresh fruit to select from along with some delicious pastries. My stay left me never wanting to leave, and I’m already dreaming about my return to Chateau de Mercues.
Win A Stay At Chateau de Mercues
As part of France Into The Vineyard Challenge, one lucky winner will win a trip to France, including a one night stay at Chateau de Mercues. To win, make sure to vote for my team’s region, Occitanie – Sud de France.
Enter the contest!