Timeline

Origin and history

The castle of Chevagny-les-Chevrières rises on a castral motte overlooking the village of Chevagny-les-Chevrières, in Saône-et-Loire. Originally, it was a solid strong house flanked by a square tower, complemented by commons. Later, pavilions were added on both sides of the southern facade, aligned with the house. The north facade, adorned with meneau and crusillon windows, is served by a stone staircase with screws.

In the 18th century, the castle was embellished by a arched portico in the middle of the hangar, supporting a terrace accessible by a parallel staircase. At that time, there were still three towers, two of which marked the entrance to the vineyard garden. The East Tower has since disappeared. The west gate, with a carriageway door and a rustic pedestrian door, provided access to a courtyard once surrounded by buildings.

Historically, the land of Chevagny was in the Middle Ages a dependency of the seigneury of Salornay. The castle was built between the 15th and 16th centuries, then transformed at the end of the 19th century to accommodate a nursery. Today, there remains a private property and does not visit.

The architecture of the castle reflects its successive evolutions: the medieval strong house, the 18th century classics, and the functional adaptations of the 19th century. Initial defensive elements, such as towers, have partially disappeared, while subsequent additions, such as the portico and terrace, illustrate a desire to beautify and comfort.

The site, though private, bears witness to the local history, linked to both the seigneurial nobility (seigneurs de Salornay) and the wine-growing activities, as evidenced by the gardens cultivated by the wine-growers. These successive transformations make it an example of Burgundian castles, marked by redevelopments over the centuries.

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