The Château de Montluc, named after its famous owner Blaise de Monluc, is located in Estillac, in the French department of Lot-et-Garonne. Built in the 13th century, it was expanded in the 16th century in a Renaissance style by the Mondenard family. Blaise de Monluc inherited it in 1544 and undertook major works, including the addition of defensive bastions inspired by Italian fortifications. He also planned a funerary chapel for himself. The castle was modified to withstand the religious wars but was partially demolished in 1793. Blaise de Monluc lived here to write his commentaries but died in 1577, leaving the estate to his grandson. Over the centuries, the castle changed hands and was classified as a historic monument in 1958. Its architecture features a trapezoidal plan with an almost triangular interior courtyard.
Manarola is a small town, a frazione of the comune of Riomaggiore. It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by tourists, with a population of 353.
Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1338. The local dialect is Manarolese, which is marginally different from the dialects in the nearby area. The name 'Manarola' is probably a dialectical evolution of the Latin, 'magna rota'. In the Manarolese dialect this was changed to 'magna roea' which means 'large wheel', in reference to the mill wheel in the town.
Manarola's primary industries have traditionally been fishing and wine-making. The local wine, called Sciacchetrà, is especially renowned; references from Roman writings mention the high quality of the wine produced in the region.