Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Bessay, located between Loire and Allier in Toury-sur-Jour, finds its origins in the 14th century in the form of a strong house built according to a plan of horse-drawn iron. Coated with moat fed by a nearby pond and flanked by circular towers with pepper roofs, the building was ruined during the Hundred Years War. Its reconstruction took place in the 15th century under the impulse of a chamberlain of the Duke of Bourbon, who restored its defensive vocation while consolidating its feudal structure.

In the 18th century, the castle underwent major modernization under the aegis of its owner, then receiver general of finances of the Poitou. The adaptations include the drilling of bays to illuminate the interiors, the removal of the drawbridge to the benefit of a fixed access, and the addition of a half-moon terrace to the west. The right wing was also redesigned to match the aesthetic cannons of the time. This period also saw the creation of a landscaped park with planted aisles, basins and water games, marking the transition to a welcoming home.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1967 for its facades and roofs, the Bessay Castle today bears witness to these three hinged periods. Its architecture thus blends medieval remains (doves, towers) with classical arrangements (terrace, pierces), while its landscaped environment, although partially modified, keeps track of 18th century gardens. The location of the site, between Loire and Allier, underlines its historic role as a point of control and seigneurial residence in this region of Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

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