Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Crary Castle, located in the town of Ozolles in Saône-et-Loire, finds its first traces written between 1120 and 1140. At that time, he belonged to Arnulf, a member of the Semur family, the first cousin of Saint Hugues, Abbé de Cluny. This fief, dependent on the royal castle of Bois-Sainte-Marie, was then a strategic point of the Mâconnais, linked to the influence of local lords and religious institutions such as the Abbey of Cluny.

In the 15th century, the castle passed into the hands of the family of La Souche, native of Bourbonnais. His members included Antoine, seigneur of Crary in 1462, as well as military personnel such as Pierre, Major in the regiment of Aligny in 1682, and Gilbert, Musketeer of the King in 1736. The estate remained in this line until its acquisition in 1771 by Louis de Foudras, Count of Château Thiers, for 90,000 pounds, before being sold to Pierre Emmanuel Dummyrat, seigneur of the Malinière, for 350,000 pounds.

The present castle, rebuilt in 1780, has a typical 18th century façade. In the 19th century, marriage alliances moved him to the families of Tournelles and then Boisset. Today, Crary is a place dedicated to receptions and weddings, perpetuating its central role in Burgundy's local life.

The archives also mention François de Neuville, Duke of Villeroy and Governor of Lyon, as heir to Lesdiguières, highlighting the castle's links with the regional elites. Anne de Foudras, lady of the duchess of Orléans, also finished her days there, illustrating her aristocratic prestige.

The site is part of a network of Burgundian castles, reflecting architectural and social changes between the Middle Ages and the modern era, from its medieval foundation to its contemporary vocation of festive space.

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