Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Domaine des Carabys, located in Mercurey (Saône-et-Loire), was built between 1833 and 1834 by Charles Brunet, notary at Chalon-sur-Saône. In 1831 he acquired a wine estate and built a house richly decorated in Empire style, including stucco, wallpaper and matching furniture. The large living room, billiard room and dining room reflect this unitary style, while the park, fitted out with paths offering views of the vineyards, includes a chapel dedicated to his son, the deceased captain in Algeria.

In 1907, the estate was bought by Mrs. Ducel, whose son, Jacques Bonneau, added decorative elements between 1907 and 1909, notably in the gloriette and staircase. The glory is distinguished by its complete neo-pumpian interior decor, including benches and lamp, while the stairwell pays homage to Napoleon with imperial eagle motifs and antique medallions. The hydraulic network, complex, feeds both the house and the vineyards, highlighting the link between architecture and the wine industry.

The estate, classified as Historic Monument in 2025, includes the house with its outbuildings, the park with its gloriette and chapel, as well as the fence walls and hydraulic network. The facades, stairwell, and ground floor rooms (excluding kitchen and bathroom) are protected, as are the entire garden, including its floors and basements. The ensemble illustrates the ambition of a coherent decor, combining Empire influences and subsequent additions, in an emblematic wine setting of the Chalonnaise Coast.

External links