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Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Vesvrotte is a former fort house located in Beire-le-Châtel, in the Côte d'Or region of Burgundy-Franche-Comté. Its origin dates back to the 12th century, when several lords dependent on Saint-Pierre de Bèze Abbey shared the village. A secular seigneury, under William de Vergy, lord of Mirebeau, emerged in the next century and built a first tower, marking the beginning of this fortification.

Over the centuries, the castle changed hands and underwent notable transformations. In 1311 Haymonin de Vesvrotte held the fief of Saint-Bénigne Abbey. In 1591, the Marquis de Tavanne seated the castle, a landmark event in its military history. In the 17th century, François Badoux, treasurer of France, acquired the estate and undertook renovations in 1678, including a dovecote in 1732 and a chapel in the second half of the 18th century.

The 19th century saw major architectural changes under the impetus of Louis-Édouard de Salvaing de Boissieu, who purchased the castle in 1832. He built and decorated the chapel in 1842, while his descendants profoundly transformed the main building at the end of the century: the ditches were filled, round towers and turrets were added, and the dungeon was partially converted into a hop dryer. In the 20th century, the castle, left abandoned, suffered degradation, including the demolition of its carved facade and the filling of its pond.

The architecture of the castle reflects these historical developments. The main body, covered with slates, is accessible by a monumental staircase and bordered by a long terrace. The court of honour is marked by a polygonal tower connecting two building bodies, while a wing in return of square is framed by circular towers and turrets. The rectangular, four-storey dungeon preserves traces of heaving, and an imposing circular tower houses the chapel. Notable outbuildings include a round dovecote and a pavilion that seems to be an old orangery.

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