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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Maulnes, located in Cruzy-le-Châtel in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, is a Renaissance castle built between 1566 and 1573 on a pentagonal plan not previously known in France. Commanded by Antoine de Crussol, Duke of Uzès, and his wife Louise de Clermont, it is designed around a central staircase and a well fed by three sources. This monument, classified in 1942, is distinguished by its bold architecture, mixing Italian influences and practical features like baths and a oven.

The site, occupied since Neolithic, once housed a castral motte destroyed in 1414 during Burgundian conflicts. In the 16th century, the ducal couple, close to Catherine de Medici, erected a hunting relay and a forest management centre, reflecting their power. The site, conducted despite the wars of Religion, ended in 1573, the year of the death of Antoine de Crussol. The little occupied castle fell into disuse before being transformed into a glass factory in the 18th to 19th centuries.

Abandoned in the 20th century, Maulnes was bought in 1997 by the Conseil départemental de l'Yonne. Since then, archaeological excavations and restorations have revealed its peculiarities: a nymph, terraced gardens, and a complex hydraulic system. Open to the public since 2005, it offers immersive tours and cultural events, while continuing its restoration. Its architecture, inspired by Italian treaties (like Sebastiano Serlio's), remains a riddle, without any certainty about its architect.

Recent research has highlighted decors painted in the baths, evoking mythological scenes, and a garden conceived as a symbolic extension of the castle. Ranked a Historic Monument, Maulnes embodies the alliance between technical innovation, Renaissance aesthetics and utility, while asking questions about its origins and past uses.

Today, the castle is a place for cultural mediation, with children's entertainment, concerts, and historical reconstructions. The gardens, restored in 2025, offer a contemporary interpretation of their original layout, while the excavations continue to explore the mysteries of this "palace in the forest", an unknown witness to Burgundy history.

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