Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Grancey Castle, located in Grancey-le-Château-Neuvelle en Côte-d'Or, is a building that dates from the 11th century. It was rebuilt in 1193 by Ponce de Grancey, a connetable of Burgundy, and experienced several phases of transformation, especially in the 13th and 15th centuries. The site, initially fortified, served as a strategic point on a barred spur, with fortifications reinforced over the centuries. In 1361, Eudes de Grancey founded a collegiate church, whose privileges were confirmed by Pope Urban V in 1365. The castle was also the scene of military events, as its seat in 1433 by the Bourguignons after the betrayal of Guillaume de Châteauvillain, then its reconstruction in the early eighteenth century with a modernized enclosure.

In the 17th century, the castle was completely rebuilt, incorporating defensive elements such as archeries and shooting windows, while preserving medieval remains, including chimneys in the large living room. The collegiate Saint-Jean-Baptiste, founded in the 14th century, was restored in the 19th century by architect Sagot, who added a neo-Gothic porch and stained glass windows laid in 1880. The monument, classified in 2000, also includes communes, a porch tower with still functional drawbridge, and gardens. Its architecture thus reflects almost a thousand years of history, mixing medieval influences, classics and modern restorations.

The castle of Grancey illustrates the conflicts and alliances of medieval Burgundy, especially during the war between Armagnacs and Bourguignons. In the 11th century, the initial fortifications met the needs of local defence, while in the 15th century, the site became a strategic issue between the kingdoms of France and the Duchy of Burgundy. The reconstruction of the 18th century marked a transition to a more comfortable seigneurial residence, while retaining defensive elements, a symbol of a tumultuous past. The collegiate church, for its part, bears witness to the religious and political role of the local lords, such as Eudes de Grancey or Thiébaut IX de Neufchastel, who carried out their patronage there.

The underground remains, ramparts and classified towers offer an overview of medieval military techniques, while the transformations of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries reflect the evolution of aristocratic lifestyles. The drawbridge still in service and underground vaulted rooms recall the functional aspect of the castle, between defense and representation. Finally, the 19th century restorations, like those carried out by Sagot, show a desire to preserve the heritage, typical of this period marked by a renewed interest in the Middle Ages and historical monuments.

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