Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Chitry-les-Mines Castle, located south of the village on a rocky spur overlooking the Yonne River, has its origins in the early 14th century. The primitive castle, mentioned in 1307 as much of Isabeau de Bazoiches, had a rectangular plan surrounded by dry ditches and protected by round and square towers. A drawbridge allowed access to the fortified enclosure, typical of medieval defensive architecture. The remains of this period include a large square tower housing the entrance porch.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the fief, acquired in 1559 by Louis Olivier, was profoundly reshaped by his son Antoine Olivier. The latter transforms the castle into a residence more in line with the canons of the time: the medieval house body is enlarged by two floors pierced with wide windows, while two wings in return of square, flanked by towers to the south, replace the old courtesines and filled ditches. These developments create a large terrace overlooking the Yonne Valley, characteristic of the late Renaissance pleasure castles.

The western wing of the castle houses a remarkable element: the Sibyl Gallery, made up of fourteen 17th-century paintings decorated with an entire floor. This painted decor, rare in the region, reflects the artistic refinement sought by the owners. In the 19th century, additional modifications were made to the building, although their exact nature was not detailed in the available sources. However, the castle retains its general organisation inherited from the seventeenth century, combining medieval defensive structures and classical additions.

The monument enjoys several levels of protection as historical monuments. The castle as a whole (excluding classified parts) was inscribed on 12 March 1942, while the door of the old chapel (located in the northeast corner of the courtyard) and the gallery of the Sibylles were classified on 11 December 1987. The same date also saw the inscription of the terrace and its retaining wall, major landscape elements of the estate. These protections highlight the architectural, historical and artistic heritage value of the site.

External links