Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Châtellenot Castle, built around 1100 on a rocky spur at 600 m above sea level, replaces an ancient Roman camp. Its first fortifications (XII-XIII centuries) included a cul-de-four apse and a dry ditch cut into the rock, partially filled with the Revolution. The drawbridge, among the oldest of the Côte-d的Or, was mentioned as early as 1140 with Milo de Castellulo, while the central dungeon, destroyed in 1770, housed archaeological remains (skelps, weapons, burnt grains).

Property ducale in 1196, the castle passes into the hands of noble families like the Châtellenot, Mont-Saint-Jean, or Burgundy. During the Hundred Years' War (14th century), it was reinforced by ditches and a high dungeon, now extinct. In 1384, the Secuyer Jehan de Chasteullonnet participated in the campaign of Scotland under Jean de Vienne. The fief, often sold or taken over (e.g. bought for £400 in 1266), underwent major changes, including an extension under Napoleon III.

The French Revolution marked a turning point: the dungeon was shot down, the stones reused for the village, and the undergrounds (forgetts) walled in the 19th century. In the 20th century, the engineer Jacques Gérin (1959-1982), inventor of the car safety wheel, occupied the place before their acquisition by a passionate family. Recent restorations saved 60% of the roofs and rebuilt the northern rampart (10 m high). The 14th century dovecote, accessible by the attic, still houses stone and pottery bolts.

The architecture mixes medieval and modern styles, with a 60 m well dug in the rock and traces of a French garden. The site, a water-sharing point, offers an exceptional panorama of the Auxois, Morvan and Bussière-sur-Ouche. Its historical role includes the route of the Burgundy Canal, decided from its terraces. Today, the castle combines medieval ruins and 18th to 19th century developments.

Ranked among the strong castles of Côte-d-Or, Châtellenot illustrates the military and seigneurial transformations, from feudality to revolution. Its remains, including the drawbridge tower and the dovecote, make it a rare witness to Burgundy history, between conflicts, family heritage and architectural innovations.

External links