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Origin and history

Vauguillain Castle, located in Saint-Julien-du-Sault, Yonne, was built at the end of the 12th century on a strategic site overlooking the Yonne Valley. Although there is no evidence of previous occupation, the discovery of a Gallo-Roman sarcophagus in 1850 suggests an ancient use of this place. The castle included a seigneurial house connected to a chapel, a well, as well as outbuildings added over the centuries, as stables built in 1492 under Archbishop Tristan of Salazar.

During the Hundred Years War (14th century), the walls of the castle were destroyed and rebuilt several times (notably in 1406 and 1492) by the inhabitants. The site then served as a residence for the Archbishops of Sens. The fortress, protected by a steep slope and surrounded by vineyards, was connected by paths to neighbouring villages such as Verlin and Précy. In 1363, Symon de Jussemicourt was mentioned as the first known governor of the castle.

In the 17th century, the castle was dismantled in 1630 according to the ordinance of Richelieu (1626), but its chapel, dedicated to St Julien, continued to be maintained by the villagers until the end of the 18th century. Today, only the remains of the enclosure (including the round tower known as the Baron Tower) and the chapel remain. These remains are protected: the enclosure has been inscribed since 1925 and the chapel has been classified since 1959 as historical monuments.

The Vauguillain toponym shares a common root with other places like Vauquilin or Monguillin, often associated with sites overlooking a valley. The chapel, originally called "the chapel of the castle", successively took the names of Saint-Julien and chapel of the Hermitage, reflecting its religious evolution and its attachment to the local collegiate.

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