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Origin and history

The castle of Promenois, located in Jouey in Côte-d-Or (Burgogne-Franche-Comté), is a building whose origins date back to the 14th century, although its current structure dates mainly from the 18th century. According to an unconfirmed local tradition, it was built on a Gallo-Roman site, later replaced by a medieval fortress. The cadastre of 1841 reveals traces of fortifications, such as ditches and turrets of angle, suggesting a defensive past.

The current Regency style house body has six spans on two levels and has recently been restored to its original decor. Two round towers remain on the rear façade, while others have been transformed into dovecotes. Part of the moat, still in water, runs along the buildings flanked by a square tower. The imposing communes complete the estate, whose facades and roofs have been protected since 1976.

Since the late 1980s, the castle has been a residence for musicians, thanks to the initiative of Dorothea and Georg Fankhauser, a couple of Swiss philanthropists. This cultural project has helped to enhance heritage while supporting artistic creation. The site is inscribed with historical monuments, with protection covering facades, roofs, and towers of the communes.

Available sources, such as Wikipedia and the Merimée database, confirm its registration in 1976 and its precise location in Jouey (code Insee 21325). The castle thus illustrates the architectural evolution between the Middle Ages and the modern era, while playing a contemporary role in regional cultural life.

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