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Origin and history

The Pressoirs of the Dukes of Burgundy in Chenôve are stone counterweight presses, unique in Burgundy, dating from the 15th century. Located in the heart of the old village of Chenôve, a wine village on the Route des Grands Crus, they testify to the historical importance of viticulture in the region. These presses, which have been included in the additional inventory of Historic Monuments since 1934, have also been listed on the Claude-Nicolas Ledoux Foundation's Industrial Architecture Buildings List since 1989. They are an integral part of the Climates of Burgundy's vineyards, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

The first mention of a ducal wine estate in Chenôve dates back to 1228, but the current presses were entirely rebuilt between 1404 and 1407 during the reign of Duke John I of Burgundy. Together with those of the Château du Clos de Vougeot, they are among the largest and oldest treulx (pressors) in Burgundy. In 1477, after the death of Charles the Temerary, they were incorporated into the royal heritage by Louis XI and remained the property of the kings of France until 1567. The site included a house of the Duke and then the king, reflecting its prestigious status.

The presses operated thanks to a giant lever mechanism (9 and 11 meters) operated by 4 and 8 tons mobile counterweights, nicknamed Margot in tribute to Marguerite de Bourgogne (1290-1315). They could squeeze up to 100 pieces of harvest per day (23,000 litres of wine). Exploited by individuals after the Revolution (sold as national property in 1791), they remained active until the 1920s. Between 1987 and 2019, they were opened to the public at Press Day, before being closed in 2019, raising concerns about their preservation.

The building housing the presses, a 35-metre-long room under a structure covered with lava stones until 1956, was surrounded by an estate of 50 hectares of vines operated by the Dukes. The archives mention from 1238 a winch (presser) linked to the church of Saint-Bénigne in Dijon. The presses, symbols of the Burgundy wine heritage, also illustrate the technical and social evolution of the region, marked by six centuries of uninterrupted wine-growing.

Chenôve, whose territory formerly depended on the Abbey of Saint-Bénigne and the Duchy of Burgundy, preserves a traditional building of wine-growing houses. The viticulture has been attested to since the 1st century AD, as evidenced by the writings of Gregory of Tours and Abbé Court Sword (18th century). The presses, classified as a historic monument in 1934, embody this heritage, now threatened by its closure to the public and the absence of a complete classification.

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