Château Pichon, Bordeaux

Historic Building and Vinyard near Bordeaux

CC BY-SA 1.0 / Renhour48

Château Pichon refers to two neighbouring estates-Pichon Baron and Pichon Comtesse-that together form one of the must-see places in Pauillac. Once part of a single family property, the estate was divided in 1850, creating two distinct yet equally celebrated châteaux. Each developed its own personality: Château Pichon Baron with deep, powerful, structured wines, and Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande with elegant, velvety expressions shaped by a higher proportion of Merlot. Visiting both offers a fascinating contrast in terroir, winemaking philosophy, and architectural grandeur.

Both estates are great places to visit on a walking tour of Pauillac's legendary wine route, where Gothic turrets, stone façades, and sweeping vineyards frame a landscape devoted to viticulture. With their iconic lakefront reflections and reputation for wines that often rival First Growths, the Pichon châteaux are essential stops for anyone exploring Bordeaux's Left Bank.

History and Significance of Château Pichon Baron & Château Pichon Comtesse
Things to See and Do in Château Pichon Baron & Château Pichon Comtesse
How to Get There
Practical Tips on Visiting Château Pichon Baron & Château Pichon Comtesse
Where to Stay close to Château Pichon Baron & Château Pichon Comtesse
Is Château Pichon Worth Visiting?
FAQs for Visiting Château Pichon Baron & Château Pichon Comtesse
Nearby Attractions to Château Pichon

History and Significance of Château Pichon Baron & Château Pichon Comtesse

The Pichon estate was established in the 17th century and remained in the Pichon de Longueville family for generations. In 1850, a family division split the property between Baron Raoul Pichon de Longueville and his three sisters. This separation created Château Pichon Longueville Baron and Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, two estates that would each be classified as Second Growths in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

Château Pichon Baron underwent major modernisation in the late 20th century when AXA Millésimes acquired the property and invested heavily in new cellars, technical upgrades, and vineyard management. Meanwhile, Château Pichon Comtesse preserved a more traditional winemaking approach, known for producing some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in Pauillac. Though distinct, both estates have maintained the Pichon legacy: precision, balance, and unwavering dedication to quality.

Things to See and Do in Château Pichon Baron & Château Pichon Comtesse

Visitors to Pichon Baron can admire one of Bordeaux’s most photographed châteaux, recognisable by its fairytale turrets rising beside a reflective ornamental pond. Inside, state-of-the-art winemaking facilities and atmospheric barrel cellars reveal the estate’s modern craftsmanship. Tastings often include the Grand Vin and Les Tourelles de Longueville.

At Pichon Comtesse, guests will find a softer elegance-manicured gardens, refined salons, and guided-tours explaining the estate's distinctive approach to blending and vineyard parcels. Tastings may feature the Grand Vin and Réserve de la Comtesse. Both châteaux offer exceptional photo opportunities and deep dives into Pauillac's celebrated terroir.

How to Get There

Château Pichon Baron and Château Pichon Comtesse are located just south of the village of Pauillac, approximately 50 kilometres from Bordeaux. Travelling by car is the easiest option and allows you to combine visits with nearby estates along the D2 Route des Châteaux. If you are looking to rent a car in France I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you. Public transport users can take a regional train from Bordeaux to Pauillac station, followed by a short taxi ride. You can use SNCF Connect to check schedules, compare routes, and purchase tickets for National (SNCF ) and regional trains (TER). For a more streamlined experience, we recommend using Omio, which allows you to easily compare prices, schedules, and book tickets for both National and Regional travel across all of Europe, all in one place. Visitors arriving by air will fly into Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Bordeaux on Booking.com.

Practical Tips on Visiting Château Pichon Baron & Château Pichon Comtesse

Best time to visit Château Pichon: May to October when vineyards are at their most scenic.
Entrance fee in Euros: Varies by tasting package and estate.
Opening hours: Typically Monday to Saturday; advance reservations required.
Official website: pichonbaron.com and pichon-comtesse.com
How long to spend: 1.5 to 2 hours per estate.
Accessibility: Some areas adapted; inquire when booking.
Facilities: Tasting rooms, boutiques, landscaped grounds, restrooms.
Photography tip: Capture Pichon Baron at sunrise for perfect reflections.
Guided-tours: Offered in multiple languages, focusing on viticulture and cellar techniques.
Nearby food options: Restaurants in Pauillac and nearby hamlets specialise in local cuisine.

Where to Stay close to Château Pichon Baron & Château Pichon Comtesse

The Médoc offers elegant and peaceful accommodation close to the Pichon estates. Château Cordeillan-Bages provides luxury lodging with fine dining. For a boutique experience, La Maison de Jean offers comfort near the river. Travellers seeking a vineyard retreat can opt for Logis de Médoc.

Is Château Pichon Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. Château Pichon Baron and Château Pichon Comtesse are among the top sights in Pauillac, offering a combination of architectural beauty, fascinating history, and some of the most celebrated wines in Bordeaux. Visiting both reveals how two neighbouring estates can express a shared terroir in wonderfully different ways.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.7 (294)

Château Pichon Baron in Pauillac is a turreted 19th-century winery offering guided vineyard and cellar tours with tastings; visitors praise knowledgeable, engaging guides (often Clement/Clementine), informative private tours that cover winemaking techniques and facilities, and excellent Grand Cru wines, with many saying the experience is beautiful, educational and well worth the price — note tours are booked and grounds may be restricted to visitors during some times, and there is a complimentary EV charger.

2 months ago

"We had an amazing private wine tour and tasting. The experience was both educational and enjoyable. We had the opportunity to ask plenty of questionsabout the winemaking process and its rich history, and our guide was knowledgeable and passionate. The setting was beautiful...."

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A Siegel

a month ago

"A sublime experience -- from beauty to (substantial) learning to testing / pushing taste buds with excellent wine all enriched by our excellent guideClementine, who amicably navigated answering a (bizarre) range of questions in both French and English. Honestly, our group started the visit agreed that we'd likely not be buying yet more wine -- between the quality of the wines tasted and the quality of education from our guide, cases ended up in the cars. Among so many interesting elements, beyond the family / Château history, it was very interesting to see and have explained things like: * how the (relatively) new facility was built with industrial engineering thinking in ways that makes work more efficient while improving production quality (and assuring consistency across production).n* the complex nature of wine barrels (quality, usage, management, life cycle)n* the laboratory's role in developing the optimum yeast for wine fermetation;n* ... Having visited, over the years, dozens (or more) vineyards and châteaux, my time at Pichon Baron certainly was heads and shoulders above any other experience. Highly recommended. PS: If showing up with an EV, be aware of the free charger...."

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Kyle Larkin

2 months ago

"For those looking for wine touring in the area, I would highly recommend Chateau Pichon Baron. The chateau and its surrounding architecture aregorgeous. The private tour (booked well in advance) was also extremely informative thanks to Clément. The 2nd Grand Cru Classe wines tasted at the end were delicious...."

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FAQs for Visiting Château Pichon Baron & Château Pichon Comtesse

Yes, both estates require reservations for visits and tastings.

Yes, they are only a few minutes apart.

Children may visit, but tastings are adults-only.

Yes, both estates have boutiques offering current and older vintages.

Photography is permitted in most exterior areas and during tastings.

Nearby Attractions to Château Pichon

Château Latour: One of Bordeaux’s legendary First Growth estates.
Château Lynch-Bages: A top Pauillac estate with a lively village atmosphere.
Pauillac waterfront: Scenic river views and wine-themed promenades.
Château Pontet-Canet: Biodynamic pioneer producing exceptional wines.
Château Mouton Rothschild: Home to an art museum and iconic labels.

The Château Pichon appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Bordeaux!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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