Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Donjon de Cravant is a medieval tower built from 1304, located in the village of Cravant (Yonne), near Deux Rivières. He initially served as a prison for knights of the Order of the Temple, before being transformed into a dwelling in the seventeenth century. The building is part of a fortified enclosure erected from 1387, of which the dungeon and the so-called clock tower remain today.

In 1983, Colette Béchet became owner of the dungeon, which was classified as historical monuments on 14 March 1991. The building is identified under Cadastre H 351 and located at 1 rue du Donjon in Cravant, although some sources mention Two Rivers as an approximate address. Three doors to the enclosure (door from below, door from Irancy, door from Arbault) were rebuilt from 1782, adding a campanile to the bridge door.

The dungeon has had various functions over the centuries: place of detention templier, private residence, and then listed monument. Available in 2023, there remains a major architectural testimony of medieval Burgundy, associated with the history of military orders and local fortifications. Its classification in 1991 highlights its heritage value, while its exact location (Cravant or Deux Rivières) reflects the toponymic evolutions of the region.

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