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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de la Motte-Josserand is an ancient castle built at the end of the 13th century and rebuilt from the end of the 14th century after its acquisition by the family of Bazoches. Located 3 km northeast of Perroy, in the Nièvre department, it dominates the outskirts of Nohain, a tributary of the Loire. Its quadrangular plane, reinforced by circular round towers, reflects its initial defensive role, while its access was achieved by a door tower formerly equipped with an arrowed drawbridge. Ranked a historical monument in 1986, it illustrates the architectural evolution of medieval fortresses in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

In 1371, the seigneury of La Motte-Josserand passed through marriage to Alexandre de Bazoches, whose son Jean de Bazoches undertook the reconstruction of the castle at the end of the 14th century. The work is part of a period of strengthening strongholds, marked by the conflicts of the Hundred Years War. Although modified in the 15th and 17th centuries, the castle retains characteristic defensive elements, such as its massive towers and its protected bassyard. The sources also mention its classification as a French historical monument, highlighting its heritage value and its remarkable state of conservation.

The site, now protected, bears witness to both local feudal history and architectural adaptations between the Middle Ages and the modern era. Its strategic location near a waterway suggested a role in controlling trade and protecting the territory. The descriptions available emphasize its quadrangular structure and defensive arrangements, typical of the Burgundian castles of this time.

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