Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Pécauld castle came into being in the 13th century with the construction of the "Vellefaux Round Tower", integrated with the Arbois ramparts. This tower, owned by the Vellefaux family, marks the beginning of a building that will evolve over the centuries. The initial defensive structure reflects the medieval context of the region, where local lords strengthened their positions through strategic constructions.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle, Chancellor and trusted man of Charles Quint, acquired the castle from Guillaume de Velfaux. He built a house, transforming the building into a residence more suited to the needs of the time. This change illustrates the social ascent of Granvelle, whose influence extended far beyond the Franche-Comté, then under Spanish domination.

At the end of the 16th century, the castle passed into the hands of the Pécauld family, officers in the service of the Dukes of Burgundy. Their possession coincides with a period of relative stability for the region, despite the political tensions between Burgundy and the Kingdom of France. The Pécauld family kept the castle until the French Revolution, when it was confiscated as national property and sold.

After the conquest of Franche-Comté by Louis XIV in 1678, Guillaume Pécauld, a member of the family, became governor of Arbois, thus strengthening the link between the castle and the local administration. This period also marks the final integration of the region into the Kingdom of France, with its political and social consequences.

In the 19th century, the castle changed its vocation: it was bought by the town of Arbois in 1829 and successively houses a presbytery and then a school for boys. His state of disrepair, however, led to his gradual abandonment until a major restoration, carried out in 1993, revived him. Since then, it has hosted the Jura Wine and Vine Museum, celebrating the region's wine heritage.

Ranked a historic monument in 1988, Pécauld Castle today embodies both the turbulent history of Franche-Comté and the Jurasian wine heritage. Its protected elements, such as the Velfaux Tower or the fireplaces of the 16th and 18th centuries, testify to the different periods that marked its architectural and functional evolution.

Future

It has been home to the Museum of Vine and Wine since 1993 (wine of Jura)

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