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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Lux found its origins at the end of the 12th century, when the Duke Hugues III of Burgundy offered in 1184 the fief of Lux to Guy I of Til-Châtel with the mission to strengthen it. This first castle, some remains of which remain, was replaced at the beginning of the sixteenth century by a stone house framed by pavilions and towers of unequal size. The front door, adorned with canned pilasters and a carved cartridge, bears witness to this Renaissance reconstruction, while inside, fragments of murals remind of the fascist of Dantan. Two isolated towers and a chapel complete the entire park.

Property of the Mâlain, bankers of the Dukes of Burgundy, from the end of the 15th century, the castle passed in 1646 to the Prince of Condé, governor of Burgundy, before being acquired by Claude du Housset, Marquis of Til-Châtel. The latter and his wife Marie d'Aguesseau donated it to their niece Catherine d'Aguesseau during his marriage in 1683 with Charles de Saulx-Tavannes, whose family would retain the estate almost three centuries. The castle, marked by the military history of the region, welcomes in 1595 King Henry IV before the Battle of Fontaine-Française, where Edme de Mâlain, Baron of Lux, illustrates himself alongside the Marshal of Biron.

The tragic end of Edme de Malain in 1613, killed in duel by the knight of Guise, then that of his son Claude a month later, marks a dark turning point for the seigneury. Despite these tragedies, the castle remained in the Saulx-Tavannes progeny until its sale in 1979. Ranked a historic monument in 1946 for its medieval elements, chapel and Renaissance architecture, it still inspires stories, such as the new The green velvet mule with a red heel (2016), evoking the mysterious disappearance of Marie-Catherine from Aguesseau in 1729.

The estate, opened on a wooded park, preserves traces of its many transformations: medieval dungeon, Renaissance house and 18th century amenities. The 13th century remains, protected since 1946, recall its initial defensive role, while the interior and exterior decorations illustrate the evolution of aristocratic tastes. The castle, linked to figures like Henry IV or the Saulx-Tavannes, embodies almost eight centuries of Burgundy history, between wars, intrigues and court life.

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