Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Savigny-le-Vieux, located in the commune of Curgy en Saône-et-Loire, is a medieval building dating back to the 14th century. The dungeon, the heart of the castle, measures 9 meters side and 17 meters high, built of local stone with walls of 1.30 meters thick. Originally surrounded by a wooden palisade, it was later equipped with a stone and moat enclosure, now extinct. This isolated site, accessible by a dirt road, is nestled in a preserved natural setting, surrounded by meadows and orchards.

The dungeon, the only major vestige of the initial structures, preserves defensive elements such as enlarged murderers in windows and a 16th century structure in chestnut. In the 16th century, Canon Gabriel de Grigny adorned there a pavilion, now collapsed, of which only the foothills remain. The castle, owned by the chapter of Autun from 1410, was sold as a national property in 1791. Since 1987, Éric Mayer-Schaller, descendant of the former owners, has been conducting restoration work to preserve this heritage.

The history of the castle is marked by figures such as Hugues de Drée, first known lord in 1365, and Jean du Rousset, adviser to Charles VI, who took possession of it before 1410. The canons of Autun, not concerned with its maintenance, exploited mainly the 250 hectares of adjoining land. After the Revolution, the castle passed into the hands of the Couland family until 1987. Today, the dungeon, partially visitable, houses historical elements such as a list of lord canons and a rare representation of Jean du Rousset.

The castle, registered as a historical monument in 1990, is only visited in summer and during Heritage Days. The main room of the dungeon, furnished with rustic furniture, bears witness to its architectural evolution, from medieval murderers to stained glass windows. The coat of arms of the Dree families and the chapter of Autun recall the feudal and religious ties that shaped its history. Finally, a stream, once crossing the estate, was channelled by the current owner.

The restoration undertaken since 2007 aims to make the dungeon habitable, while preserving its authenticity. The traces of the old fortifications, although partially erased in the 19th century, recall its defensive role past. The site, accessible by departmental road 107, offers a panorama of the Drée valley, highlighting its isolation and picturesque character.

Historical sources, such as J.-F. Clanet's or Harold de Fontenay's work, document the coat of arms and the estates of owners. The castle thus illustrates the evolution of a medieval seigneury into an agricultural estate, then into a heritage preserved by historical enthusiasts.

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