In 1883, Countess Adèle de Toulouse-Lautrec bought Malromé, with 32 ha of vines, from the widow of Forcade la Roquette. She made this acquisition with her dowry received at the time of her marriage, which allowed her to live far from her husband, the eccentric Count Alphonse de Toulouse-Lautrec, who was passionate about hunting and horses.
He ended his life there and died on September 9, 1901 before being buried in the Verdelais cemetery.
A bit of History...
The history of the Castle is long.
The painter will be a regular visitor to the castle between the ages of 19 and 36 where he will paint his last painting.
On a section of wall, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec painted the face of his mother's cellar master.
Catherine de Forcade - widow of the Baron de Malromé - acquired the estate in 1780, she left her mark on the estate that has since borne her name.
In 1847, the château was passed on to Jean de Forcade, President of the Conseil d'Etat under Napoleon III, and to his half-brother, the Marshal of Saint-Arnaud, Governor of Paris and Minister of War. They had Malromé restored "after Viollet-le-Duc".
Countess Adèle de Toulouse-Lautrec bought Malromé in 1883, attracted by the proximity of the pilgrimage site of Verdelais and the presence of her cousin Madame Pascale at the Château de Respide.
The castle today
After four years of work, the Château reopens its doors in the spring of 2018. Renovated in a spirit of conservation and transmission, it is part of the heritage of the Entre-Deux-Mers region in the south Gironde. The restoration work has been recognized by the "Maison des Illustres" label. The cultural program combines guided tours of the painter's apartments and exhibitions of contemporary artists, echoing his themes and his passion for Japan. The Adèle x Maison Darroze restaurant offers a menu inspired by the regional tradition with an Asian touch. Concerts are organized in the center of the courtyard of the castle during the summer period. The private apartments of the Countess of Toulouse-Lautrec have been refurbished.
Not far from Malromé is Malagar, the home of François Mauriac. The walk allows you to discover an exceptional point of view on the Garonne valley. This loop of a dozen kilometers connects François Mauriac to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
Malromé is also a vineyard
Exploited for five centuries, the vineyard of Malromé rests on an exceptional terroir, made of clayey-gravelly alluvium brought by the formation of the Pyrenean ditch which gave birth to the Garonne.
The estate groups together seven varieties of grape varieties on 42 hectares.
Château Malromé is one of the oldest wine estates still in activity.
Its wine project has been entrusted to Charles Estager, a winegrower in renowned appellations whose know-how is rewarded for its quality.
He is accompanied by the oenologist Bruno Lacoste.
Twenty beehives are also installed in Malromé in the heart of a clearing that provides optimal conditions for the bees to enjoy themselves and offer beautiful honeys.
The care of the hives has been entrusted to the beekeeper Valérie Doussin, a member of Apiculteurs en Aquitaine.
Château Malromé
33490 Saint-André-du-Bois
Phone : 05.56.76.25.42
Restaurant Adèle x Maison Darroze
Tel : 05.57.98.38.24
Reservations and information on www.adele.malrome.com
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