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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bost Tower, located in Charmoy in Saône-et-Loire, is a medieval quadrangular dungeon built in the 12th century, then modified and enhanced in the 14th century. It served as a watch and defence outpost for the castles of Uchon and Montcenis, while being a prestigious dwelling and the seat of a seigneury. Its architecture is remarkable, with a stone vaulted base floor and a 103 steps staircase integrated in the thickness of the walls. Originally 43 metres high, it was amputated with a turret and related buildings around 1750, and lost its roof during a fire in 1920.

The tower originally belonged to the Du Bois family, which owned it from the 13th to the 16th century. Guillaume Du Bois, in the 14th century, fought the Big Companies alongside Robert de Martinpuits. His descendants, such as Hugues and Jacques Du Bois, participated in the expeditions of the Dukes of Burgundy and in the fighting against the Armagnacs. After the death of Charles the Temerary in 1477, the family lost its influence, and the estate passed into several hands, including those of the Moroges, the Chastellux, and the Durand of Chalas. The tower was looted during the Wars of Religion around 1590, then occupied by the Austrians in 1815.

Ranked a historic monument in 1908, decommissioned after the 1920 fire, it was again classified in 1997. Since 1992, it has been undergoing restoration. Although located on a private property, it is open to the public at summer events or by appointment. Its unique architecture, with its five floors, Gothic or Renaissance fireplaces, and its medieval defense system, makes it a rare testimony to Burgundy history.

The tower was surrounded by ponds on three sides and situated on an ancient Roman road that became medieval road. It allowed exchanges of optical signals with the Château de Montcenis. Its basements housed a cellar, a tank fed by a spring, and a vaulted kitchen. The upper floors, more decorated, reflected its dual defensive and residential use. Today, there is only a rectangular tower of 30 meters, devoid of its roof but maintaining its thick walls and its round path.

The coats of arms of the families who owned the tower, such as the Moroges (or three-banded d-azur) or the Chastellux (d-azur to the gold band), recall its seigneurial importance. The tower was also linked to figures such as François de Moroges or the Count of Charrin, who had the castle of Bruel built nearby in the 19th century. Its history reflects the political and military upheavals of Burgundy, from the Capetian Dukes to the French Revolution.

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