The Écomuseum

A Living Place, A Heritage to Share

Guided Tours and Tastings

Carole Garreau, fourth generation of the Garreau family, and her team welcome you all year round
(see opening hours in the practical information section). They invite you to visit the estate
(including the Armagnac Écomuseum, see below) as well as the gourmet and cultural boutique,
located just 3 km from the center of Labastide d’Armagnac.

Passing on the know-how of our ancestors is something we hold very dear, while remaining firmly anchored
in modernity. At Château Garreau, we strive to innovate, preserve, educate, and share this heritage,
while also promoting sustainable and responsible farming practices on the estate.
Our vineyard has been awarded the High Environmental Value (HVE) certification.

To help you discover the history and the different methods of crafting our renowned Armagnac, we invite
you to join our tours and tastings throughout the year.

Our Activities

Château Garreau is proud to host the Armagnac Écomuseum, located between the villages of Labastide d’Armagnac and Mauléon d’Armagnac. An Écomuseum is a museum of people within their environment. Unlike a traditional museum confined to a building, an Écomuseum aims to explain and highlight a territory by showcasing the most representative elements of its heritage and evolution. It is based on both the heritage and the community who live, or have lived, within this terroir. The Armagnac Écomuseum plays an active role in the life of the village of Labastide d’Armagnac.

Located just a few kilometers from the center of Labastide d’Armagnac, the Écomuseum is run by the “Écomusée de l’Armagnac” association. Its volunteers, organized into several committees (scientific, management, and user committees), strive to design, develop, and showcase the heritage, know-how, and innovations of the terroir, notably through its various museums and exhibitions.

The Winemaker’s Museum

The Winemaker’s Museum is housed in a 17th-century Gascon barn whose architecture fully reflects the local tradition.
It is a museum of popular arts and traditions that showcases the various types of work and activities once carried out on the estate or in the region (the trades of the winegrowing farmer, as well as the crafts essential to farming life), illustrated by more than 1,000 tools.

The Alembic Museum

The Alembic Museum is housed in the former press and the estate’s teaching distillery, which operates each year in November or December. Eleven different types of stills have been brought together here, including the alembics (dating from 1919 and 1932) that are used to distill the estate’s Armagnac. You will also find a reproduction (in terracotta) of the oldest known distillation apparatus, dating back 3,500 BC, as well as an experimental electrically powered still.

The estate’s Armagnac is produced in this distillery. On this occasion, introductory and discovery events are organized, which visitors are welcome to join. The current distillery was built in 1981 with the aim of further improving Armagnac and all distilled products.

The Permanent Bottle Exhibition

This exhibition brings together several hundred bottles of spirits in a wide variety of shapes and styles,
many of them particularly original.

The Botanical Walk of the Domaine de Gayrosse

The botanical trail introduces visitors to a selection of native and exotic trees within the park. Some are only a few years old, while others are centuries old. It is a leisurely walk among the estate’s trees and shrubs. We have designed it to be as precise as possible, even including a few specialized botanical terms. If, regardless of your age, you finish the walk with a renewed interest in plant life, the objective will have been fully achieved. About one hour of bucolic strolling awaits you.

Nature Trails

Discover the beauty of Château Garreau’s six ponds on our nature trails (swimming not permitted). Whether you take a short 30-minute stroll to enjoy the views from the little bridge over the stream, or spend two hours exploring the full circuit, you will be immersed in a haven of peace and nature.

Along the way, you will encounter the wild pond of Brameloup, the Palombes pond, and the historic Brameloup farm, a 17th-century Gascon farm awaiting restoration. With a bit of luck, you might spot the protected European pond turtle, watch herons fishing, admire flights of mallards, or even glimpse a roe deer if you walk quietly.

Every season and every hour brings a new atmosphere. This is a place of beauty and calm, perfect for relaxation, discovery, and reconnecting with nature.

The Gascogne Auditorium

The Gascogne Auditorium is a multipurpose venue:

Conferences, meetings, or events for associations, companies, and organizations seeking a welcoming setting
Temporary or permanent exhibitions for all visitors of the Armagnac Écomuseum
Ceremonies for various brotherhoods and confraternities

Exhibitions are regularly renewed thanks to the contributions of exhibitors and volunteers, who provide new displays and information. Artists also present their work here periodically.

This auditorium was once the estate’s hayloft, which stretched the entire length of the stables below.

The Welcome Pavilion and the Gourmet & Cultural Boutique

Step inside and discover the estate’s Armagnac and Floc de Gascogne, along with a fine selection of Château Garreau creations and specialties from local producers carefully chosen by our team. Our experts will be happy to guide you in your choice, Armagnac is a spirit of character, and there is always one that will perfectly match your taste.

After your visit to the Armagnac Écomuseum, enjoy a complimentary tasting to experience the richness of our terroir.

In the boutique, you will also find souvenirs and gifts, books on the Armagnac region, the Écomuseum’s journals, and publications designed both to share knowledge and to support ongoing research. A perfect way to take a piece of Gascony home with you.