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Origin and history

Tavannes Castle, located in Aisey-sur-Seine in Côte-d'Or, is an 18th-century reconstruction built on the remains of a 15th-century fortress. The current L-shaped building retains the original basements and stair turret, integrated into a classic architecture. The entrance pavilions, the chapel (1749-1751), and the access gates date from this period of reconstruction, conducted for Charles de Saulx, Viscount of Tavannes, heir to a noble line allied to the Tavannes since 1504.

The fief of Aisey, originally linked to Saulx's house, passed to the family of Tavannes at the beginning of the sixteenth century by the marriage of Jean de Saulx with Marguerite de Tavannes, the last heiress of the fief. This dynastic bond culminated in 1786 when Louis XVI raised the title of Duke of Saulx-Tavannes to honour the lieutenant general of Burgundy, a direct descendant. The castle, inscribed with historical monuments in 1988 for its facades and roofs, bears witness to this aristocratic history mixing the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment.

Today private property not open to the public, the castle of Tavannes illustrates the architectural evolution of seigneurial houses in Burgundy. Its protected elements (pavillons, grids, perrons) reflect the 18th century fascist, while its medieval foundations recall its defensive origin. The cartographic confusion with a hypothetical castle of Chavannes remains unexplained, no historical source validating this name.

Saulx's family, to which the castle owes its name and prestige, embodies the alliance between military and land power in Burgundy. Their influence extended from the Middle Ages — via the original stronghouse — to the Revolution, with the ducal title created under Louis XVI. The castle, although private, remains a heritage marker of the Gold Coast, combined with other local monuments such as the Ducal Castle of Aisey-sur-Seine or the Bon Espoir.

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