Portets

History of Portets

The history of Portets dates back to antiquity, when its territory, nestled in a bend of the Garonne, attracted Iberians and Ligurians. Soon, the Romans built a first port there, developed river trade and established the first vineyards from which the multi-millennial wine vocation of Portets was born. In the Middle Ages, a fortified castle was built on the territory of Portets. Governed for several centuries by the barony of Gascq, it will be successively bequeathed and then sold. From 1785 until the end of the 19th century, it belonged to the Séguineau de Lognac family, who received Napoleon 1st there in 1808 on his return from Spain, before entering Bordeaux. Occupied during World War II, the building was then left abandoned for more than a decade. On the Garonne, Portets had three ports, one of which was built as an extension of the castle terraces and called the Port du Roy. In 1880, a shipyard was established in Portets. Many boats and barges were to emerge from it, including the Bateau-Mouche, the Aliénor, in 1984, just before the final closure of the yard.

The essentials of Portets

The heritage of Portets tells its inhabitants and visitors the prestigious history of this area ideally located south of Bordeaux, on the west bank of the Garonne. The old ports, long dedicated to river traffic, are now nautical stopping places that benefit boaters and boat passengers. In the middle of the vineyards stands the Tour du Roy, whose vocation was to allow the surveillance of barges on the river. From the Château de Portets there is a 17th century dwelling which was altered in the 19th century. In the town is also the listed castle of Mongenan, a Louis XV style folly built in the 18th century and now open to visitors. Its park is home to a botanical garden and a rose garden made up of more than 1000 varieties. The Château de l'Hospital and the Gaubert house are other examples of remarkable architecture which make Portets so charming. Finally, among the city's must-sees are the old washhouse near the castle and the 19th century Church of Saint-Vincent. Common to the historic vineyards, the territory of which is covered by the Graves appellation, Portets is home to 25 châteaux whose cellars delight wine lovers. Among them, the Château de Portets itself, the owners of which are bringing the historic vocation of wine to life.

Living in Portets

The small town of Portets attracts for its elegant charm and its unspoiled environment between the river and vineyards. Less than 25 km from the center of Bordeaux, you can enjoy a calm and rejuvenating life in the countryside with very easy access to the shops and cultural establishments of the Bordeaux metropolis. One of Portets’s main assets is its train station in the heart of the village, and its TER which connects it directly to Saint-Jean station in just over 20 minutes. Portets has a kindergarten and a primary school for families, as well as a free recreation center and youth room for 11-14 year olds. The town of 2,800 inhabitants is home to many local shops and services, including general food stores, cafes, a bakery, hairdressing salons, a greengrocer, restaurants, and even a flea market. Health services are also well developed there, with several general practitioners and specialists, a medical analysis laboratory, physiotherapists and speech therapists. Cultural and sporting life is finally dynamic, animated all year round by numerous associations: tennis, cycling, athletics, theater, dance, music.