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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Pizay is a former fortified house founded at the end of the 14th century, located in the delegated commune of Saint-Jean-d'Ardières, in the Rhône department (region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). This monument, one of the oldest fiefs of Beaujolais, combines medieval elements — such as the square dungeon and a circular staircase tower — and a Renaissance-style home. It was partially inscribed in the historical monuments on 5 September 1972, covering the facades, roofs and stairs of the dungeon.

Six families have succeeded Pizay since the 11th century. The Marchamps, attested in 1070 with Gosmard de Pizay, gave way to the Nantons in 1420 via the marriage of Eléonore de Pizay. In 1570, the Sainte Colombe acquired the estate by alliance, followed in 1722 by the Sabot family, a Lyon bourgeois. In the 19th century, the castle passed to Sarrazin, then to Berthet in 1883, before being sold in 1916 to Alfred Pépin de Bonnerive. After the Second World War, the estate changed hands several times, leading in 1981 to its acquisition by Groupama, who turned it into a luxury hotel and wine estate.

The site preserves medieval remains (Tanay Tower, Pregnant) and a French garden partially attributed to André Le Nôtre (1692), with cut yews and a central basin. The current winery, exploited on 75 hectares, produces wines under several Beaujolais appellations (Morgon, Brouilly, Régnié). The castle, a private property, now combines upscale accommodation, gourmet restaurant and seminar rooms.

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