Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Puits is attested as early as 1239 by an agreement of inheritance arbitrated by Hugues, Duke of Burgundy, confirming its existence as a medieval fortress. This historical document marks its first written mention, although its exact origin remains unknown. The site, strategic, was then linked to the feudal dynamics of the region, with withdrawal rights granted to residents of neighbouring villages such as Etais and Coulmier.

Over the centuries, the castle changed hands several times, evolving from a defensive function to a more residential role. In 1774, Abbé Court Sword described him as a "old castle fort", stressing his local importance. Its current architecture reflects this transition: the 15th century poterne, equipped with a bow and cannon guns, is next to a body of Renaissance-style houses probably built in the 17th century. The northern building, rebuilt in the 19th century, now houses the town hall of the village.

Two elements of the castle are protected as historical monuments: the gate, inscribed in 1941, and the facades/roofs of the main building, classified in 1971. These measures preserve medieval and Renaissance remains, such as the two-storey tower house or the rectangular terrace overlooking the escarpment. Although private property not open to the public, the castle remains a symbol of the heritage of Châtillonnais, illustrating the evolution of the Burgundian fortresses.

The site is organized around a central courtyard, surrounded by two parallel buildings and a massive isolated entrance to the north, the oldest part. The poterne, a key defensive element, combines a full-circle carriage door and a pedestrian door, topped by four cannon guns. In the east, the main house body, Renaissance style, contrasts with the tower house with chamfered bays, reflecting architectural adaptations between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

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