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La Nuit des Châteaux returns from 16 to 18 October 2026
On 16, 17 and 18 October 2026, the whole of France will be aglow for the Nuit des Châteaux. Over the course of a weekend, several hundred historic sites will open their doors exceptionally at dusk to offer unique night-time experiences: torchlit tours, wine tastings under the stars, concerts, storytelling walks through the vineyards… For the 2026 edition, the wines of Saint-Émilion are taking part for the second year running, with ten estates from our appellations opening their cellars and gardens for a truly extraordinary evening.
Launched in 2019 by Dartagnans, the Nuit des Châteaux brings together several hundred partner monuments across France – and even beyond our borders – every year. The event attracts more than 190,000 visitors and generates over 1,000 press mentions, proof that France’s wine-growing and architectural heritage continues to fascinate young and old alike. Each participating estate is free to set its own opening hours, admission prices and programme, resulting in a wealth of unique experiences: dinners with live music, torch-lit cellar tours, themed tastings and fancy dress evenings.
For this 8th national edition, the Saint-Émilion vineyards are reaffirming their place in this celebration of wine heritage, one year on from their first, highly acclaimed participation. Ten châteaux from our appellations are opening their doors after dark, offering a different way to discover one of Bordeaux’s most prestigious wine regions, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Château Fleur de Roques, nestled in the hamlet of Roques just a few minutes from Saint-Émilion and centred around a 16th-century château, will be opening its doors on Friday 16, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October for an evening event, the programme for which will be announced shortly.
Château Haut-Chaigneau, owned by Vignobles Chatonnet, is opening its doors on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October for a convivial and musical ‘Paulée’, combining tastings of its Saint-Émilion appellation wine with a festive atmosphere at the heart of the estate.
La Cave du Clos des Menuts, situated just outside the ramparts of the medieval town, invites visitors on Saturday 17 October to a torch-lit tour of its impressive monolithic cellars: 550 m² of underground galleries hewn directly out of the limestone rock, where the Rivière family’s Grand Cru is aged.
Château Champion, a family-owned estate for eight generations, is offering a sensory and gastronomic stroll by lantern light on Saturday 17 October through its vineyard, planted on ancient sandy soils to the north of Saint-Émilion.
Château Rol Valentin, a beautiful estate run by Alexandra and Nicolas for over 15 years, invites visitors on Saturday 17 October to a tasting inspired by legends and constellations – an evening combining astronomy and oenology beneath the vineyard’s starry sky.
Château Ambe Tour Pourret, a certified organic estate at the entrance to the village of Saint-Émilion, will be open on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October to reveal the secrets of its Grand Cru over a cocktail featuring Crémant de Bordeaux. The full programme will be announced shortly.
Château Soutard, one of the oldest classified estates in the vineyards, situated at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomes visitors on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October for an evening event, the programme for which will be announced shortly.
Château Coupelle d’Ertan, a restored 19th-century house situated a few hundred metres from the village of Saint-Émilion, is hosting a wine tasting and book signing on Friday 16 and Sunday 18 October in the heart of its vineyard, which is planted entirely with Merlot.
Château Godeau, owned by the Florisoone family on one of the appellation’s highest slopes in Saint-Laurent-des-Combes, will open its doors on Friday 16th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October for an evening event, the programme for which will be announced shortly.
Château Quintus, owned by Domaine Clarence Dillon (which also owns Château Haut-Brion) and created from the merger of the former Châteaux Tertre-Daugay and L’Arrosée, will open its doors on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October for an upcoming evening event across its 28 hectares in the heart of the appellation.
La Nuit des Châteaux returns from 16 to 18 October 2026
La Nuit des Châteaux takes place on Friday 16, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October 2026. Each estate is free to set its own opening hours, admission prices and programme: some evenings are already open for booking via the official website nuitdeschateaux.com, whilst others will unveil their programmes in the coming weeks. To make sure you don’t miss out, it’s best to check the pages dedicated to each château regularly, as bookings open as the programmes are announced.
By taking part in this nationwide event for the second year running, Vins de Saint-Émilion are reaffirming their commitment to offering a different kind of wine tourism experience and to opening up the vineyards and their architectural heritage to an ever-wider audience, under the cover of night.
