THE CASTLE OF RAVIGNAN

At the end of the ^13th century, Perquie was the center of a baylie. In the early ^16th century, the seigneury belonged to a branch of the Mesmes family. The new château was rebuilt in 1663 after the Wars of Religion by Alcibiade de Mesmes, next to an old building. The Lacroix family from Bayonne undertook the completion of the château. They demolished the old château and built a second main building. In 1902, the park was designed by landscape architect Buller. The central and eastern sections date from the ^17th century, while the western section dates from the ^19th century. The single-bay central pavilion is framed on either side by the two-bay corps de logis and the two-bay end pavilions. Almost the same architectural articulation can be found at Poyanne. The sculpted central door is dated 1663. Set in a superb French park, the château's classical Louis XIII-style layout is inhabited by the Ravignan family, who perpetuate Armagnac production methods with the greatest respect for local traditions. Guided tours present this family history through high-quality furniture, paintings and objects, such as an interesting collection of 500 engravings evoking Henri IV, or a complete wardrobe of ^18th-century men's suits. You'll also visit the armagnac cellars (tastings available), where production has been documented for nearly three centuries. The family is particularly renowned for its delicious armagnac raspberries.