Châteaugay: Castle, Vineyards and Panoramic Views

Châteaugay combines a medieval fortified castle with a wine-growing landscape on the slopes of an ancient maar explosion crater. It also offers cultural venues with stories of their own and two routes with different panoramas. This means your trip planning can bring together architecture and cultural history, as well as geology, winegrowing and views of striking landscapes.

Castle and Cultural History

The Château de Châteaugay is a medieval fortified castle overlooking the Limagne plain. It has been classified as a Monument historique since 1911. For the 2026 visitor season, guided tours are offered of the keep’s rooms, the fort’s towers, the Perrière, the terraces and the Sainte Madeleine church. If the château is on your itinerary, check the tour dates for the 2026 season in advance.

The Sainte-Madeleine church houses a 17th-century statue of Saint Mary Magdalene. The Espace Culturel de la Bionne was completed in September 1887 and was long called the « Eglise nouvelle ». At the end of the 1980s, volunteers saved the building; since then, it has hosted a variety of events. The former Lascombe Mesclier cellar was restored by the municipality. The sites span themes from the medieval fortress and religious art to the Bionne’s later use as an events venue. The restored former cellar is another distinct point of interest.

Vineyards, Geology and Origins

Châteaugay’s vineyards are mainly located on east-, southeast- and south-facing slopes of an ancient maar explosion crater. Pépérite, a rock characteristic of Châteaugay, is found in this area. The Circuit oenotouristique runs through the vineyards of the municipality of Châteaugay, an area bearing the AOC Côtes d’Auvergne designation. From the calvary on the hill, there are 360-degree panoramic views of the Chaîne des Puys, the Monts du Forez, Chanturgue and Gergovie.

Two Routes, Different Views

Les coteaux du plateau de Lachaud also offers views of the Chaîne des Puys, Riom, Limagne, the Montagne Bourbonnaise and the Monts de la Madeleine. Along this route, visitors can also discover Châteaugay’s former cellars. The Chaîne des Puys is a shared landmark visible from both routes; the other landscapes mentioned are different. This lets you choose viewpoints according to the features described for each, while Les coteaux also offers the former cellars as something to discover.

Winegrowing and Wine Production

The designation « AOC Côtes d’Auvergne DL Châteaugay » was created by a decree dated 25 October 2010 and came into force with the 2011 harvest. Domaine Tourlonias is a 5 ha wine estate in the municipality of Châteaugay. It produces red wines from Gamay, a Gamay rosé and a Chardonnay white wine. Alongside the history of the designation of origin, this gives specific information about wine production in the municipality.

Discover more destinations: Menat, Saint-Maurice-Près-Pionsat, Peschadoires, Randan, Saint-Rémy-Sur-Durolle, Saint-Georges-sur-Allier, Saint-Pierre-Le-Chastel, Aubière

For the wider travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.