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Origin and history

The castle of Druyes is an ancient castle of the twelfth century, today in ruins, located in Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines in Yonne, Burgundy-Franche-Comté. Built around 1170 by the Counts of Nevers, it served as a princely residence and fortress until the 18th century. Its Philippian architecture, with circular towers and a square plane of 53 metres side, reflects the defensive innovations of Philippe Auguste's era. The site, classified as a historic monument in 1924, was saved from the ruin in the 20th century by volunteers and public authorities.

Originally, the castle belonged to the Counts of Nevers, including Peter II of Courtenay, the future emperor of Constantinople, and his daughter Mathilde, Countess of Nevers, Auxerre and Tonnerre. In the 13th century, it became a place of power where charters were signed, such as that of Auxerre in 1223. After centuries of abandonment and military decline, he escaped revolutionary demolition but suffered three centuries of neglect. Its restoration began in 1958 thanks to local mobilization, and it is now open to the public.

The castle stands on a limestone plateau overlooking a valley, surrounded by a fortified village which was the first line of defence. Its enclosure, flanked by four cylindrical towers and three square towers, illustrates a major innovation: the towers deported outwards to improve the defense of the walls. The 20-metre-high north tower served as a fortified entrance with harrows and assumers. The seigneurial house, now extinct, was home to a hall lit by a Romanesque gallery, while the chapel, decorated with frescoes, occupied a square tower.

Druyes was also the scene of significant historical events, as the reception in 1216 of barons offering to Pierre de Courtenay the crown of the Latin Empire of Constantinople. After his death in 1219, his daughter Mathilde confirmed urban privileges and received feudal tribute. The castle lost its residential role in the 17th century, passing into the hands of noble families like Damascus, before being sold as a national good in 1795. Saved in extremis from the demolition, it was acquired by private owners in the twentieth century, who undertook its restoration.

The architecture of Druyes is distinguished by the absence of a traditional dungeon: the defensive and residential functions were dissociated, with a palatial house backed by the south courtine. The courtines, 2 meters thick and up to 10 meters high, were surmounted by crenelated round paths. The angle towers, deported to avoid blind spots, allowed an optimal flanking. The north tower, transformed into a belfry in the 18th century, still houses a clock and a bell offered by the villagers. These characteristics make it a rare witness to the evolution of castles between the 12th and 18th centuries.

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