Château de Valmirande, breathtaking
The little Chambord of the Pyrenees
In Montréjeau lies a true treasure, and lucky is the person who manages to catch a glimpse of it from the road! Protected by rows of majestic trees, the Château de Valmirande hides out of sight at the edge of the Pyrenean valleys, just a stone’s throw from Saint-Bertrand de Comminges.
Discover a real fairy-tale castle
The Château de Valmirande has everything a great castle needs and has nothing to envy of its cousins in the Loire Valley!
Inspired by the Château de Chambord, Valmirande rose from the ground in just three years, thanks to the strokes of genius of its architect, Louis Garros from Bordeaux. This ex-nihilo creation was imagined at the end of the 19th century by Baron Bertrand de Lassus, whose family still owns the estate. While the interior is not open to visitors, you can still admire the incredible architecture of the grounds… Don’t miss a look at the small Gothic chapel; its stained glass windows and marble make it a place apart on the estate.
Stroll through the gardens of the Château de Valmirande
A gigantic park (41 hectares, no less!) inevitably means exceptional gardens, and the Château de Valmirande is no exception to the rule. Baron Bertrand de Lassus called upon the Bülher brothers (the landscape architects who designed the Parc Bordelais and the Parc de la Tête d’Or in Lyon, among others) to design magnificent gardens. Wander through the paths of this little slice of paradise and admire the foliage of trees that are now a hundred years old. Your botanical walk will lead you past statues, sculptures, and bridges, as well as fountains and caves… An immersion into the imagination that is a hit with all visitors! The gardens of the Château de Valmirande are also a perfect source of inspiration for budding writers and filmmakers!
♥ Three fun facts to know about the Château de Valmirande ♥
- The incredible landscaped park features nearly 180 species of trees… plenty to brush up on your botany classics! A true arboretum of over 180 species with trees that are now a hundred years old, including eight tulip trees, Lebanese, Atlas, or Himalayan cedars, bald cypresses from Louisiana, magnolia grandiflora, a weeping linden, or shrubs including the citrus poncirus and Portugal laurel; most of these specimens were planted at the age of twenty, which explains their current size.
- In 1912, the son of landscape architect Édouard André added two “French-style” parterres: one to the north and the other to the south of the castle, from which you can discover the view of the Pyrenees mountain range beyond the Neste valley and Saint-Bertrand de Comminges.
- The park and gardens of the castle were classified as a “Remarkable Garden” by the Ministry of Culture until 2017.
- For the surrounding wall alone, it took a good fifty masons to complete the work.
- The stable at the Château de Valmirande is one of the most beautiful in France and extremely rare, as it is made entirely of marble.
Prepare your visit
The Valmirande Estate in Montréjeau is a private property.
The tours offered are guided tours in French (English/Spanish leaflet provided)
Opening periods
– From July 14 to August 31: one tour daily at 10 AM and 4 PM.
Other school holidays: one tour per week, upon request.
– From September 1 to 15: one tour on Thursdays depending on demand.
European Heritage Days: open from 10 AM to 7 PM
All year round for groups of more than 10 people (booking required) at 06 21 05 40 16.
PRICES
- Standard adult rate: €10
- Reduced rate (group) for 10 people or more: €8
- Child rate (under 12): €5
- Reduced European Heritage Days adult rate: €5
- Reduced European Heritage Days child rate: €3
- No credit card payments
Valmirande Estate
Please arrive 10 minutes before the tour time at the gates of the Valmirande Estate (RD 817 – Direction Tarbes)