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Origin and history

The Château de Charnay stands on a slight eminence overlooking the Loire, on the commune of Perrigny-sur-Loire in Saône-et-Loire. Its buildings, organized around a square courtyard, include a 15th century round tower flanked by a stair turret. The main house body, also from the 15th century, underwent renovations in the 17th and 19th centuries, keeping inside a monumental fireplace and restored frescoes of the old chapel.

Originally, the castle was a freehold belonging to the Rumilly family in the early 15th century. In the 18th century, Jean de Rumilly sold it to Claude Morey de Vianges, who transmitted it in 1755 to Jean-Baptiste de Mac Mahon, Marquis d'Eguilly. The latter, of Irish origin, was Mac Mahon's grandfather. The castle, private property, is not visited.

The architecture of the castle reflects its successive transformations: the medieval structure of the 15th century, the classic modifications of the 17th century, and the external arrangements of the 19th century. The interior elements, such as the fireplace and frescoes, bear witness to its rich historical past, linked to noble families of Burgundy and Ireland.

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