Origin of the house XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
First mention of a house on the site.
1636
Destruction by the Swedes
Destruction by the Swedes 1636 (≈ 1636)
Fire by Saxony-Weimar troops.
1713-1714
Construction of the current castle
Construction of the current castle 1713-1714 (≈ 1714)
Built by Claude-Antoine Aillet on the ruins.
1717
Addition of commons and dovecote
Addition of commons and dovecote 1717 (≈ 1717)
Extension of agricultural dependencies.
1824
Construction of side wing
Construction of side wing 1824 (≈ 1824)
Expansion of main house.
3 décembre 1987
First entry MH
First entry MH 3 décembre 1987 (≈ 1987)
Partial protection of the castle.
26 octobre 2023
New registration order
New registration order 26 octobre 2023 (≈ 2023)
Total protection of the domain.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The Château de Villefrancon, in total, comprising the house of the castle and the chapel, located 18 rue Principale and rue de la Chapelle, on plots Nos. 415 and 554 appearing in the cadastre of the commune section A, as delimited in red on the plan annexed to the decree: inscription by order of 26 October 2023
Key figures
Claude-Antoine Aillet - Architect
Manufacturer of the castle in the 18th century.
Origin and history
The Château de Villefrancon, located in the commune of the same name in Haute-Saône, is an emblematic civil building of the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The present set, surrounded by a circular moat, includes a sober rectangular house, devoid of facade decor, as well as four buildings of agricultural outbuildings and a dovecote. This architectural simplicity reflects the regional trends of the era for civil constructions, focusing on functionality and ornamentation.
The castle was erected between 1713 and 1714 on the ruins of a medieval fortress, attested from the 13th century and destroyed in 1636 by the Swedish troops of Saxony-Weimar. The architect Claude-Antoine Aillet designed the main house, while the commons and the dovecote were added in 1717. A lateral wing was later built in 1824. The site retains remains of the original concentric ditches, reflecting its defensive past.
Ranked a Historic Monument, the castle was the subject of two protection orders: a first inscription in 1987, replaced by a new decree in 2023 covering the entire estate, including the chapel. The property is now shared between the municipality and private owners. Its exact address, 18 rue Principale and rue de la Chapelle, is referenced in the Merimée database under the code Insee 70557.
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