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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Rully, located in Saône-et-Loire, is an old 14th-century fortified house composed of a square dungeon, three round towers and a flanking tower, surrounded by crenellated courtyards and a deep ditch. A missing drawbridge controlled access from the south. This defensive system reflected the military needs of the medieval era, while integrating residential elements such as oak frames and Burgundy tiles added in the 15th century.

In the 15th century, the Saint-Léger family modernized the interior with buildings backed by ramparts, with exposed beams and vaults in the towers. The transformations of the 19th century, such as the filling of moat or the addition of a neo-Gothic building, partially altered its medieval appearance. However, the castle retains remarkable elements, such as a dovecote that can house 2,400 pigeons and lava communes, remains of its lower courtyard.

The history of the castle dates back to 851, with a first written mention. It passes into the hands of Vergy's house (920), then of Hugues de Rully, who erected the dungeon in the 12th century. By alliances and inheritances, it echoed the Saint-Léger (XIVth century), then the Montessus (1619). During the Revolution, the Marquise de Montessus, imprisoned in Chalon, was described as a protector of the poorest. Today the private property of the family of Aviau de Ternay, the castle, classified Historic Monument in 1960, is visited and is part of the Castle Route in Southern Burgundy.

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