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Origin and history

The Château de Charny is a former 14th century castle located in the eponymous village of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Its ruins, perched on a plateau northeast of the village, overlook departmental road 108. The site, now privately owned, preserves impressive remains: a polygonal enclosure once flanked by eight round towers, thick courtines of three meters, and ditches today filled. The main entrance, located to the west, was protected by two towers, and the interior, although destroyed, suggests a staircase leading to the courtyards and a tank being cleared.

The history of the castle is marked by frequent conflicts and changes of hands. As early as 1196, the fief belonged to Étienne de Mont-Saint-Jean, and remained in his family despite tensions. In 1426, the Dijon Board of Accounts attempted to recover the fortress, then in the hands of enemies. In 1456, the Duke Philippe the Good pupil Charny to the rank of county for Pierre de Bauffremont, but the problems persist: in 1439, negotiations were held with scavengers, and in 1480 the seigneury passed to Antoinette de Luxembourg, wife of a Marshal of Burgundy. In the 16th century, Philiberte de Luxembourg left Charny to his parent Philippe Chabot. The castle was finally demolished around 1614 under Louis XIII, although remains remained in 1774.

Ranked a historic monument in 1924, the castle of Charny illustrates medieval military architecture, with its mid-air towers and sophisticated defences. Despite its partial destruction, it remains a valuable testimony of the feudal struggles and political transformations of Burgundy. The ruins, sold as materials in 1808, also recall the upheavals of the Revolution and the modern era, where the medieval heritage was often sacrificed to practical needs.

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