Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Thil stands on the town of Poil, in the department of Nièvre, in Burgundy-Franche-Comté. Built near an ancient protohistoric road, it dominates a strategic pass between Mount Dône and the Manizot wood, marking the passage between Burgundy and Nivernais. The map of Cassini indicates it as a castle close to a royal road, stressing its historical importance in regional exchanges.

The current remains reveal a medieval origin, with dating architectural elements of the 13th century, such as murderers, vaulted rooms and torchi walls. Although the restored house represents only part of the original building, the terraced courtyard and the imposing cellars testify to its former defensive and seigneurial role. A chapel, now gone, was formerly associated with the castle, enjoying the privilege of celebrating a second mass on Christmas Day.

The history of the castle remains partly enigmatic. The first mention of a seigneury on the site dates back to the 13th century, while a seigneurial dwelling is attested in 1400, without specifying its initial form. The architectural traces suggest a continuous occupation, but the archives are lacking to trace its detailed evolution. The site thus illustrates the challenges of preserving a fragmented medieval heritage, marked by successive transformations.

The castle is part of a wider historical landscape, linked to the "Beuvray Fairs" and old communication axes. Its location, between two regions, probably made it a point of control or rest for travellers and merchants. Today, its ruins and restored home offer a glimpse of Burgundy military and seigneurial architecture, although partially erased by time.

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