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Origin and history

Orin Castle, located in Grignon in Côte d'Or, is a 17th-century building built on the remains of an ancient medieval house. Although the site was mentioned as early as 1365 under Jean de Pontailler, then in 1457 with the Dinteville family, the present castle was rebuilt in the early seventeenth century. In 1622, the seigneury of Orin, reduced to a simple cripple surrounded by ditches, returned to François Bretaigne, lieutenant general at the bailliage of Auxois. The present building, described in 1794 as a central low body framed with two wings and surrounded by ditches, does not retain any element of the original medieval structure.

The castle escapes the deteriorations of the French Revolution and retains its 17th century aspect, as documented in 1794. In 1865, Étienne Jean Charles Champion de Nansouty, pair of France and discoverer of the coalfields of Sincey, died there. The monument has been partially protected since 1984 with the inscription of its facades and roofs to historical monuments. Today, it houses a cultural animation centre, perpetuating its role in local life.

Historical sources point to the evolution of the site, from a feudal motte in the 14th century to a modern seigneurial residence. The Burgundy Canal, close to the castle, and the location south of the village of Granges, add a striking geographical context. The absence of medieval remains and the preservation of its 17th century structure make it a rare example of preserved architecture of this time in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

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