Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château Lapalus stands on the town of Sance, in Saône-et-Loire, at the foot of the hillside of Grisière. Its name, derived from the Latin paludis (maras), evokes a past where the region was rich in wetlands and water points. The building, marked by repeated transformations over the centuries, has four towers with distinct styles, reflecting the changing tastes of its successive owners. The estate includes a park, a well still visible, bread ovens, and a guard room with a monumental fireplace.

The castle and its park were acquired by the municipality of Sance in 2011 for 555,000 euros, excluding notarial fees. Since then, the site has been preserved and restored by an extra-municipal commission called Les Amis du Château Lapalus. Although generally closed to the public, it opens exceptionally at the fire festival in mid-August, a federative event where the inhabitants burn wood from the annual pruning of the trees of the estate.

Since 2021, the Château Lapalus has also served as a stage for filming, including short films and video clips. This place, rooted in local life, illustrates the architectural and social evolution of the Mâconnais, while maintaining a community function through its annual events and new cultural vocations.

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