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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château du Pin is a former castle built in the 3rd quarter of the 13th century on the order of Jean I of Chalon (1190–1267), Count of Burgundy and Lord of Arlay. Built in 1253 on the ruins of an earlier castrum, it aimed to control the salt road crossing the land of Saint-Pierre Abbey of Baume-les-Messeurs. Its rectangular dungeon, with mâchicoulis and scaffolds, symbolized the comtal power in this strategic area between the rivers Seille, Doubs and Saône.

In 1425, the castle was acquired by Guillaume de Vaudrey, lord of Courlaoux, who gave him his present physiognomy by reshaping the enclosure and the buildings. The site, originally designed as a military fortress, evolves into a seigneurial residence in the 15th century, with the addition of a housing body to the sill windows and a Renaissance staircase. In 1674, during the Dutch war, Louis XIV ordered his partial destruction: only a portion of the court was demolished, preserving the essentials of the structure.

In the 18th century, the castle lost its defensive function and turned into a farm and then a gentilhommière. After 1845, it even houses a wine farm, taking advantage of its proximity to the Jura vineyards. In 1920, Baron Carlos de Watteville bought the ruins and launched a vast restoration campaign (1923–33), rebuilding the enclosure, the house and the towers under the direction of architect Georges Martin. These works, although criticized for their neo-medieval style, save the monument from disappearance.

Today, the castle of the Pin is classified and inscribed in the Historical Monuments ( decrees of 2000 and 2002). He visited in summer and during Heritage Days, offering a rare testimony of medieval military architecture and its adaptations to modern and contemporary times. Its dungeon, five semicircular towers and inner courtyard illustrate nearly 800 years of history, from feudal conflicts to 20th century restorations.

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