Construction of the castle Fin Xe ou début XIe siècle (≈ 1125)
Inferred by the Bishop of Auxerre to the Count of Nevers.
1853-1855
Construction of prison
Construction of prison 1853-1855 (≈ 1854)
Architect Pierre Paillard, innovative cellular system.
1926
Closure of the prison
Closure of the prison 1926 (≈ 1926)
End of prison use.
1947
Purchase by the city
Purchase by the city 1947 (≈ 1947)
Becomes fire station and municipal services.
8 juin 2021
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 8 juin 2021 (≈ 2021)
Total protection of the castle and prison facades.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The Old Castle of Cosne in its entirety, including the courtyard and stairway, and the facades and roofs of the former prison of Cosne, 10 rue Alphonse-Baudin, located on Parcel No.64, section AM, as delimited on the plan annexed to the decree: inscription by order of 8 June 2021
Key figures
Évêque d'Auxerre - Feudal Lord
Infeode the castle to the Count of Nevers.
Comte de Nevers - Medieval owner
Receives the castle in fief in the 11th century.
Pierre Paillard - Departmental architect
Designed prison in 1853-1855.
Origin and history
The Old Castle of Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire consists of an octagonal enclosure of the 11th century, reinforced with turrets and a tower with broken arches. Its 3 metres thick walls, made of limestone, once housed wooden houses and a chapel. The drawbridge was replaced by a staircase in the 17th century. This castle, infused by the bishop of Auxerre to the Count of Nevers, was surrounded by ditches and threatened with destruction after its sale to the Revolution.
The departmental prison, built between 1853 and 1855 by architect Pierre Paillard, illustrates the progressive prison principles of the 19th century: cellular system and pensylvanian surveillance. Its rectangular plan, with central gallery and individual cells, adopts a castral facade with polygonal forebody. Closed in 1926, the prison helped save the castle from demolition.
Purchased by the city in 1947, the site housed a fire station until 2017 and municipal services. Ranked a Historic Monument in 2021, it includes the entire castle (courtyard and staircase) as well as the facades and roofs of the old prison. Its history reflects the architectural and social evolutions from feudality to the industrial era.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review