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Origin and history

The castle of Marigny-sur-Ouche, also known as Château fort Saint-Maurice, is a medieval building in ruins located in Saint-Victor-sur-Ouche, in the department of Côte-d-Or. Built in the early 16th century by Christophe de Rochechouard, it stands on a rocky spur overlooking the Ouche Valley. Its remains, accessible only by a forest path, testify to a defensive architecture marked by towers, a ditch and archeries.

The fief of Marigny, one of the oldest in the Duchy of Burgundy, was mentioned in 584 when King Gonrand donated it to Saint-Bénigne Abbey. Over the centuries, he changed his hands several times: he passed to the Sires of Châtillon-en-Bazois in 1205 at the Abbey of Saint-Seine in 1264, then returned to the duchy in 1296. In 1303 Robert II of Burgundy ordered his son Hugues never to give him up, but he was finally sold in 1360 to Jacques de Vienne, lord of Longwy.

In the 15th century, the castle belonged to Claude de Montaigu, lord of Couches, who put it in rent. In the 17th century, the seigneury of Marigny was powerful, encompassing several villages and hamlets. However, as early as 1757 an inventory reported its state of degradation. In 1766 Jean Paris de Montmartel bought it to recover its stones and rebuild the castle of Barbirey. The remaining ruins were destroyed during the Revolution.

The current remains include a 16th century rectangular tower, remains of house and chapel, as well as a hexagonal dovecote. A search campaign in 1992 attempted to consolidate the site, but the vegetation has since been taken over. The castle illustrates the evolution of a declining medieval fortress, marked by changes of owners and progressive destruction.

Architecturally, the castle follows the contours of a rocky spur, with a wall of enclosure serving as support in the lower courtyard. The entrance, once protected by two semicircular towers and a drawbridge, is now destroyed. The remaining archères and towers offer an overview of its original appearance, while the working stones of the rectangular tower clearly date back to the 16th century.

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