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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Beaulieu, located in Varennes-lès-Mâcon in Saône-et-Loire, perfectly illustrates the architecture of the 17th century French castles. Its rectangular central body, covered with a high roof with croupes, is flanked by two slightly advanced wings. The facades, which are rhythmic by windows with meneau and crusillon, house two entrance doors leading to symmetrical stone stairs. Although private property and not open to the public, it was listed as historic monuments on November 12, 1992, for its heritage interest.

The land of Beaulieu originally belonged to the family of Chaintré in the 15th century, before passing into the hands of Philippe Margot, bourgeois of Mâcon, at the beginning of the 16th century. In 1662 Jacques Ray, prosecutor of the bailiff, acquired the estate and built it in four years the present castle. Ruined by this company, he gave it in 1686 to Claude Bessac, seigneur of Varennes. The Mathurin de Fontainebleau, heirs of Bessac, retained the property for almost a century, until its sale in 1791 to Adam-Philibert d'Origny-Dampierre.

In the 19th century, the castle underwent several restorations and modifications, including the filling of the ditches around 1812, erasing the last remains of the early strong house. Around 1885, it was acquired by Count Marc de Maubou. Despite these transformations, the castle retains its original architectural features, reflecting the evolution of a seigneurial estate in aristocratic residence.

The castle of Beaulieu thus embodies the social and architectural history of Burgundy, from its medieval origin to its modern transformations. Its inscription in historical monuments in 1992 underlines its importance as a local heritage and a preserved example of the art of building the Great Century.

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