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For your next barge holiday in France, step aboard the Andoji and spend a relaxing few days navigating down the French Canal du Midi. This inland waterway flows past stunning countryside and charming villages. As you approach Maraussan, you can stand on the deck of your hotel barge and admire the stunning castles that line the shore. You won’t want to miss the impressive sight of Château de Perdiguier. A Local Heritage Site with an Intricate History Located in the heart of a lovely 7km2 estate, the Château de Perdiguier was erected in the Middle Ages, but has since been developed into a thriving Languedoc wine production site. This impressive edifice bears witness to an intricate evolutionary history. Built in 1280, its original thirteenth-century structure can still be spotted on the edifice’s north-facing walls. It was these same walls that attracted the king’s court and encouraged King Charles V to take possession of the castle. In 1375 he then gifted the Château to Jean Perdiguier, the region’s royal treasurer. It was at this time that the first vineyard was planted on the estate. Tragically, Perdiguier did not reap the benefits of this beautiful estate for long. Just four short years after he took control of the château, he died in the Montpellier Rebellion. The castle was then passed down to the women of the family, a linear tradition of inheritance that persisted until 1793. Over the course of those 400 years, the edifice went through significant architectural restructuring and reimagining. A large central courtyard was added, as well as several round towers, with their steep-tiled roofs and erratically-spaced mullion windows. These are the Château de Perdiguier’s impressive features that you can witness while on your barge holiday in France. A Plentiful Estate Though infamous for its rich history and attractive features, this château, unlike most of its kind, is still used as a production site today. Bearing fruit, cereals, honey and wine, its small vineyard also grows an abundance of eight varieties of grapes. Most importantly, it yields the essential merlot and cabernet sauvignon grapes that are carefully and expertly prepared to create the unique taste of its mouth-watering En Auger wines. It wouldn’t be a barge holiday in France without a tour around the estate’s vineyards. After a pleasant stroll around the grounds of Château de Perdiguier, you will be taken down into the remarkable vaulted cellars where the wines are left to ripen into that signature flavour. A master sommelier will then give you a private tasting and allow you to savour the estate’s excellent produce. If the idea of sumptuous wine and stunning countryside fills you with a desire to go on a barge holiday in France and visit the Château de Perdiguier, then get packing! A cruise down the Canal du Midi is the perfect way to discover the fascinating history and viticulture of the Languedoc region. Author Plate Paul Newman is the Marketing and E-Systems Executive for European Waterways, the UK's most respected provider if you're looking for an all-inclusive, luxury barge holiday in France and other great destinations. Part of a team of experienced barging aficionados, Paul is first in line to endorse the perks of a slow-paced barge cruise to anyone looking for a unique holiday experience.
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