Chateau d’Agel
Peter and Sally Shaw have found the most superb, mediaeval castle in which to entertain their guests. In the heart of the Languedoc region of France, only 10 km from Minerve, you will find the castle of Agel. Château d’Agel consists of the main building, four towers, an orangery and a dovecote, and dates back to the 12th century. Its extensive terraced gardens covering 2 hectares (5 acres) offer extensive views over the Cesse valley and the Pech Mountain: the ideal setting for a quiet walk or a relaxing dip in the swimming pool, and for a holiday with gourmet meals and amazing wines.
Historically, Château d’Agel was one of a line of fortified castles built to resist the Pope’s forces, and where the Count of Toulouse resisted the Albigensian crusade in the 13th century. The château, with its commanding position over the Cesse valley was of great strategic importance to the Cathars. Simon de Montfort ordered Aymeri, viscount of Narbonne, to besiege the château, but Guiraud de Pépieux, Lord of Aigues-Vives and Agel, escaped during the night to Minerve, taking with him two French knights whom he had captured.
It was the Treaty of Paris that annexed Languedoc to France in 1220, which put an end to the Crusade. Guiraud de Pépieux, who had escaped the massacre, set about restoring the château for his descendants.
The history of the Château reads like a portrait gallery of the feudal lords of South-West France. In 1764, the property is recorded as having been sold to Jean d'Augier of Narbonne. Thereafter, the chateau continued to pass as a legacy from one owner to another, until it passed into the hands of the present owners, the Ecal family. In the 1960s the Ecal family began the immense task of restoring the property and its gardens to their former glory, and most recently Martine Ecal and her husband Jean-Marie have continued the restoration to create the most magnificent place to stay.
Soak up the atmosphere of the chateau’s rich history as you wander its vast halls, or pause for reflection in the library; relax in the comfort of its spacious bedrooms and enjoy breakfast with a view over the park; sip aperitifs on one of the many terraces and be tantalized by Peter Shaw’s gastronomic delights. (See itineraries)
Below you will find a few photographs of the castle to give you an idea of the delights of Château d’Agel. We hope that you will join us soon to find out how magnificent it really is.
The main building and towers
The gardens, swimming pool and orangery
The entrance hall and the wine cave, with tasting area
The ground floor sitting room and library
The dining room and first floor sitting room
Bedrooms and bathrooms
