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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Chasselas Castle, located on the slopes of the same name town in Saône-et-Loire, is distinguished by its architecture organised around a rectangular courtyard. Partially dating back to the 16th century for its eastern house body, it also incorporates elements from the 14th and 18th centuries, such as the southern main house. Three pepper towers, covered with varnished tiles, frame the courtyard, while a fourth tower marks the corner of the vegetable garden. This 12 hectare winery, which is still active, houses a tasting cellar accessible all year round.

The history of the castle is marked by a succession of noble families and tumultuous transactions. From the 13th century, the land belonged to the Chasselas, then passed to the Roux in the 15th century. Judith du Roux, last heiress, successively married Lyonnet de Challes – a Huguenot executed for banditry – and Philibert de Bellecombe. Their descendants retained the estate until 1706, despite dramas such as plague (1629) or murder (1654). The castle, sold several times in the 18th century due to debts, was partially looted in 1789.

In the 20th century, the abandoned castle was bought in 1971 by Mr Reme and his wife, who undertook a complete restoration. Since 1979, it has been listed as a Historic Monument for its facades, roofs and towers. Today owned by a civil agricultural society, it combines architectural heritage and wine-growing activity, perpetuating a tradition dating back centuries.

The successive lords, such as Guillaume de Chasselas (1325) or Laurent de La Fond de La Rolle (1756), reflect the strategic and social importance of the place. The arms of the Cellard d'Estours family, owned in 1774, adorn one of the towers. The castle thus illustrates the evolution of the local elites, between land nobility and rising bourgeoisie, in a major wine-growing context for Burgundy.

The architecture of the castle combines residential, agricultural and defensive functions. The 18th century house, with its wings in return for square, contrasts with medieval towers, symbols of power. The communes, linked to the towers by agricultural buildings, underline the economic autonomy of the estate. This duality between prestige and utility characterizes Burgundy wine castles, often at the heart of large farms.

The château de Chasselas remains a living testimony to regional history, and is listed as a historical monument for its external elements (façades, roofs, towers). Its wine cellar and its spaces open to the public make it a historic and dynamic place, anchored in the wine landscape of Saône-et-Loire.

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