Purchase of the castle of the Twelve 1652 (≈ 1652)
François de La Chaize acquired the ancient medieval castle.
1665
Destruction of the Castle of the Twelve
Destruction of the Castle of the Twelve 1665 (≈ 1665)
Land slide kills his two sons.
1674-1676
Construction of the current castle
Construction of the current castle 1674-1676 (≈ 1675)
Work by Mansart and Le Nôtre for François de La Chaize.
27 avril 1972
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 27 avril 1972 (≈ 1972)
Castle, gardens, orangery and cuvée protected.
2017
Change of ownership
Change of ownership 2017 (≈ 2017)
Purchased by Christophe Gruy, Lyon leader.
10 février 2020
Extension of protection
Extension of protection 10 février 2020 (≈ 2020)
Ice and hydraulic system registered.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Fronts and roofs; orangery; the large hall and the main staircase; the Louis XIV room and the large theatre on the first floor with their decors; the facades and roofs of the communes; Cove; the terrace; the French garden and the vegetable garden (cad. D 327, 328, 329, 335) : classification by order of 27 April 1972; The whole building of the château de la Chaize (logis) excluding the already classified elements, the whole of the elements related to the regular gardens excluding the gardens themselves already classified, including the hydraulic system and any masonry or other elements related to the operation of these gardens which would not already be classified, as well as the parcels of seats, the cooler and the south-west aisle and the seat plot, the parcel surrounding the cubage (already classified), the parcel bordering the château to the north-west of it and the former enclosed plot, planted with vines, the old château des Clous in its entirety, and the plot on which it is situated, all located in the domain of the château de la Chaize, at the place called la Chaize (cad. D 283, 301, 315, 333, 337, 357, 459, 462, 465, 529): registration by order of 10 February 2020
Key figures
François de La Chaize d'Aix - King's Lieutenant and Sponsor
Founded the castle after the destruction of the Twelve.
Jules Hardouin-Mansart - Architect of the castle
Designs the current building plans.
André Le Nôtre - Garden landscaper
Drawing the French gardens.
Père de La Chaize - Relais à la Cour de Versailles
Helped to get Mansart and Le Nôtre.
Christophe Gruy - Owner since 2017
Leader Lyon, new owner of the estate.
Origin and history
The Château de la Chaize, located in Odenas in the Rhône department, was built between 1674 and 1676 on the plans of architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, with gardens designed by André Le Nôtre. This wine castle, the largest in the region, rises on the slopes of the Beaujolais mountains, in the Brouilly appellation. He was commanded by François de La Chaize d'Aix, king's lieutenant at Beaujeu, after the destruction of his previous castle, the Twelve, during a landslide in 1665 which cost his two sons their lives. The new castle, more majestic, was designed to withstand geological hazards thanks to a system of retaining walls.
The estate covers 400 hectares, 150 of which are dedicated to the vine, and houses a classified 17th century cuvée and a 108-metre cellar. The castle, classified as a historical monument in 1972, is distinguished by its symmetrical architecture, triangular pediment, and an ochre slate roof reminiscent of Italian influence. Inside, the "King's room", adorned with a fresco depicting Love and Psych, and the large lounge of the Restoration period, decorated with panels of Lacroix de Marseille, bear witness to its fascist. The French-style gardens, organized in parterres and vegetable garden in "sun", were also classified in 1972.
Property of the La Chaize d'Aix family for more than three centuries, the castle was sold in 2017 to Christophe Gruy, a Lyon leader. The domain, still active in the viticulture, produces wines of the appellations Brouilly, Côte-de-Brouilly and Fleurie. In 2022, he hosted a controversial dinner organized by Laurent Wauquiez, president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, for 90 personalities, billed over 100,000 euros to the community. The classification of the castle was completed in 2019 and 2020 by the inscription of the cooler, the hydraulic system, and the hamlet of the Clous.
The gardens, designed to balance the proportions of the castle, incorporate an alley creating an elongated perspective, as well as a vegetable garden arranged in rays around a central basin. This vegetable garden, growing more than 200 varieties of roses and various vegetables, reflects the 17th century horticultural heritage. Originally, 24 gardeners maintained the site, adorned with fountains and gravel coloured in Arabic. Today, only 32 yews and five "cake-cut" massifs remain from that time.
The Château de la Chaize embodies the alliance between classical French architecture, wine heritage and local history. Its classification as a historical monument covers not only the house and its interior decorations (theatre, room Louis XIV), but also the commons, orangery, and gardens. The estate remains a symbol of Beaujolais, mixing wine production, tourism, and memory of the great names of French art, Mansart and Le Nôtre.
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