Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Mazoncle Castle, built in the 3rd quarter of the 16th century, is distinguished by its original architecture: a body of square houses in yellow limestone, topped by a 17 metre roof dated by dendrochronology of 1561-1562. A foundation stone in the basement bears the date of 1559. The building adopts a symmetrical plan with a central split wall, separating the interiors from the cellars to the attic, and is flanked by square towers covered with roofs in the pavilion. The outbuildings, including commons and a clock house built in 1744, form a rectangular courtyard. At the back, kennel, tank, bread oven and old vegetable garden complete the set.

The estate is part of an older history, with a strong house attested from the fourteenth century on the site. Between 1559 and 1565, Antoine de Saint-Anshot had the new castle erected, marking a break with the medieval model. The park, originally regular, was transformed in the 19th century into an irregular landscaped area, embellished with factories (pigeon, wash, cave). The commons and guardian's house, added at that time, reflect a reorganization of the estate. The ensemble, protected in 2024, illustrates the evolution of a seigneurial residence between Renaissance and modern times.

The protected elements include the entire castle, the dovecote, the outbuilding facades, as well as the park and its fence walls. The estate extends over the communes of Marly-sur-Arroux and Oudry, with plots clearly delimited to the cadastre. Its architecture, blending structural originality (double pasture) and local materials (yellow limestone), makes it a rare testimony of 16th century residential innovation in Burgundy.

The interior of the castle is characterized by a double distribution of the rooms, on both sides of the split wall, a particular feature emphasized in the archives under the term "double pavilion". The pavilion roofs, both aesthetic and functional, dominate the silhouette of the building. The communes, organized around a courtyard, housed domestic and agricultural functions, while the park, redesigned in the 19th century, integrated views into picturesque factories, reflecting the landscape tastes of the era.

The location of the estate, between Marly-sur-Arroux and Oudry, as well as its approximate address (2145 route de Mazoncle), underline its anchoring in a rural Burgundy territory. Although the cartographic accuracy is considered "passable" (note 5/10), the cadastral coordinates and the protection decree of 2024 guarantee its preservation. The castle, closed or open to the visit according to unspecified modalities, remains a major heritage marker of Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

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