History ofChateau de Pitray
Château de Pitray stands on land that has been inhabited for over 10,000 years, as evidenced by a prehistoric dolmen nestled in the park. This mysterious relic is a reminder that this place has always drawn people, generation after generation.
Owned by the same family for 26 generations, Pitray embodies a rare and precious sense of continuity. The earliest known mention of this lineage dates back to 1466, when Jehan de Las Simas, known as Simard, acquired a vineyard plot in Saint-Émilion. This founding moment came just after the Battle of Castillon (1453), which ended the Hundred Years’ War and ushered in a new era of civil peace for the region. It was during this time that the first feudal manor at Pitray was built.
In the following century, the residence was remodeled by Marguerite de Pellegrue, Lady of Pitray and member of one of the branches of the de Ségur family. While no document formally confirms it, tradition holds that Montaigne—whose château was less than an hour away on horseback—was a regular visitor to Pitray.
Over the centuries, the current family counts among its ancestors several illustrious figures who helped shape the history of France:
- Jean d’Yversen, sent in 1559 as ambassador to Suleiman the Magnificent by Henry III;
- Palamède de Suffren, who fought alongside his uncle, the Bailli de Suffren, during the American War of Independence in 1778;
- Benoît de Boigne, appointed commander-in-chief of the Maratha army by Maharaja Scindia;
- Émile Vincent de Pitray, father-in-law of the famous Comtesse de Ségur;
- And finally, General de Simard de Pitray, a Saint-Cyr graduate, aide-de-camp to Marshal Niel, Minister of War, and later general of cavalry in the Oran division in 1886. He completely rebuilt the château in 1868, giving it the appearance it has today.
From the park, you can see the historic site of the Battle of Castillon, which took place on July 17, 1453—marking the final blow of the Hundred Years’ War. It was here that French forces defeated the English army, securing the kingdom’s reconquest and causing the death of English general Talbot, the same man who had captured Joan of Arc.
An exceptional testament to uninterrupted history, the château, its park, gardens, and outbuildings have been entirely listed as Historic Monuments by decree on April 19, 2010.
