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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Sennecey-le-Grand, located in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, finds its origins in the 10th or 11th century with a first "house-forte" held by Thibert de Sennecey. This initial building, 60 metres long and 44 metres wide, was surrounded by deep ditches and defended by round towers. The entrance, facing to the southwest, was flanked by two large towers connected by a courtine pierced by a door protected by a harrow and a drawbridge. These towers, rebuilt in the 15th century by John II of Toulongeon, were demolished in the 18th century under Count Antonin de Noailles.

In the 15th century, the castle, described as old and damaged by the wars between Armagnacs and Bourguignons, was partially restored thanks to the financial aid of the Duke of Burgundy. John II of Toulongeon, lord of Sennecey, had raised an important army to defend the fortress, but his death in 1427 left to his son the task of completing the works, completed around 1470. Renovations will include strengthening defences and repairing damage to conflict.

The 16th century marked a major transformation under the impetus of Nicolas de Bauffremont-Sennecey and his son Claude. The castle was enlarged and embellished, with the construction of a new bastioned enclosure, corner pavilions, and a stone bridge decorated with mythological statues (Jupiter, Venus, Junon). The interiors were modernized, with spacious rooms such as the "Salle des Empereurs", decorated with canvases and sculptures, and a restored chapel. The ditches were filled, and a large courtyard surrounded by moat was built, reflecting the splendor of the "Good Barons" of the time.

After the Bauffremonts, the castle changed hands several times: it passed to the Foix-Candales in 1641, then to the Vieuxponts in 1680, and finally to the Aillys in the 18th century. In 1777 it was sold to Sabine Olivier de Senozan de Viriville, wife of the Duke of Talleyrand-Périgord. Their daughter, Melanie de Talleyrand, married him to the Noailles in 1803. The latter sold it to the commune in 1824, which demolished it to build the parish church. Today, there are only remains: the corner pavilions, portions of walls, moats, and two stone bridges.

The castle chapel, erected in 1377 by Jean de Sennecey and restored in the 16th century, was an active place of worship until 1793. It was divided into two parts, with a balustrade reserving space for lords. The park, set up behind the castle, included aisles d'ormes and chestnut trees, flower beds, and a piece of circular water, maintained annually by a gardener from Versailles. These developments reflected the prestige of the seigneury of Sennecey, one of the most important in Burgundy.

Partially listed as historical monuments in 1937, the site also maintains an esplanade classified since 1938. The current remains, owned by the commune, bear witness to its lavish past, between medieval fortress and Renaissance residence, before its destruction in the 19th century to give way to a religious building.

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