Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Breuil castle, located in Gueugnon in Saône-et-Loire, was originally built at the end of the 15th century by the Brisejunc family. Its original architecture included a dungeon surrounded by 13 towers, now reduced to one, transformed into a dovecote. Nestled in ditches and accessible by a drawbridge later replaced by a stone bridge, the castle combines medieval elements with Renaissance influences, visible in its main house body and its corner towers.

Acquired in 1530 by Nicolas de Chargères, lord of the Sapinière, the estate passed into several hands before being rebuilt after a fire in 1616. In the 17th century, the baronie du Breuil had vineyards on the hillsides of the Arroux. Sold in the 19th century, the castle was exchanged in 1830 with the family of Valencia, allowing its return to the descendants of the Chargères. A major restoration in 1930, when it served as a grain attic, gave the castle its present appearance.

Today private property of the Chargères du Breuil family, the castle is not visited. Its history reflects the architectural changes and property changes typical of Burgundian castles, marked by periods of decline and renaissance. The archives mention its local economic role, especially wine, and its adaptation to agricultural needs over the centuries.

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