Castle of Champ-Renard

Thirty minutes from Lyon lies the village of Blacé, nestled among the rolling hills covered with vineyards in the heart of Beaujolais. Perched on a hill overlooking the valley, this is where Château de Champ-Renard has stood since the feudal era, a 7.5-hectare wine estate. It has been the residence of many lords, including Lord Jean Agnot, who rescued the famous Chevalier Bayard during the Battle of Pont Garigliano. The Château de Champ-Renard has retained the large circular tower from that time, which once served as the old keep. Most of the structures date back to the 15th century, while the triangular pediment was added in the 18th century by the Marquis d’Espinay de Laye. Above the entrance door and the wine cellar, one can still admire his coat of arms, sculpted in stone, adorned with a crown and flanked by two lions on either side of the heraldic shield.

Around 1765, the Marquis d’Espinay de Laye decided to transform Château de Champ-Renard into a wine estate. It was during this period that the medieval rooms on the ground floor were converted into cellars. In 1787, the Château welcomed Thomas Jefferson, who came to exchange knowledge about vines and winemaking. In 1898, the Château, then owned by the Adrien family, was fully restored by the architect Louis Germain. During this time, the North Wing was constructed, including stables, a tack room, and a carriage garage.
In 2015, Denis Garnier and Fabienne Vilain acquired Château de Champ-Renard and undertook its restoration, turning it into their family home and reviving Champ-Renard to its former splendor and vitality.