Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Saint-Apollinaire is a heterogeneous architectural ensemble, resulting from the juxtaposition of buildings of various periods. The main body, rectangular in shape, is extended by a modern extension on the edge of the still water moat. An imposing square tower, accompanied by an adjacent building and a stair tower, dominates the whole. Despite major changes, some old parts remain, such as the raised entrance door and a window decorated with sculptures (foliage garlands worn by lion heads). A hexagonal dovecote, typical of the 16th and 17th centuries, completes the estate, while ground stone strips highlight the different levels.

The history of the site dates back to the 11th century, when a family of knights erected a castral moth surrounded by moat on the territory of Saint-Apollinaire. In the middle of the 15th century, Pierre Baudot, then mayor of Dijon, razed the old fortified house to build a more luxurious residence, reflecting its social status. A century later, the castle passed into the hands of the Sábourot des Accords family, which probably added the dovecote. In the 18th century, the building changed its vocation: acquired in 1731 by the Congregation of the Ladies of the Refuge, then in 1762 by the Ursulines, it became a religious place before being sold as a national good during the Revolution.

Purchased by an individual after 1789, the castle was finally acquired by the City of Saint-Apollinaire in 1931 to install classrooms, resulting in enlargements in 1938. Partially classified as historical monuments since 1927, it now bears witness to almost a thousand years of history, between seigneurial power, religious life and public use. Local sources, such as the works of Albert Binet or François Biju-Duval, document its evolution in the context of medieval and modern Burgundy.

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