Château de Béru
A family château above the Chablis vineyards, with a rare sundial and moon dial, and biodynamic wines.
- Wine château
- 1 h 39 from Beaune
- Tastings on site
- 13th to 18th centuries
€370one way from Beaune with a private driver
At a glance
- Commune
- Béru · Yonne
- Style
- 17th-century château around a square courtyard
- Heritage
- Registered historic monument
- Official website
- chateaudeberu.com
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 1 h 39 by road (146 km), €370 one way for the whole car.
Or add it to our long-day wine tour, €880.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the château
Béru is a small village about ten kilometres east of Chablis. Its château has belonged to the same family for more than 400 years, and today Athénaïs de Béru makes Chablis here from about 15 hectares of vines farmed biodynamically. Guided visits of the château end with a tasting, and there are guest rooms on the estate.
History
Béru is an old estate, with parts from the 13th to the 18th centuries. A fire in 1646 badly damaged the château, which was rebuilt in the 17th century as a group of buildings around a vast square courtyard. The layout of the grounds followed a plan drawn in 1728, and lines of planted trees from that design can still be read today.
The family of the counts of Béru has owned the estate for more than four centuries. Athénaïs de Béru took over the vineyard and signed her first vintage in 2005. She works with biodynamics and a light hand in the cellar, and since 2012 some wines have been bottled without added sulphur. The château and its outbuildings were listed as a historic monument in 2001.
Architecture
The château stands at the back of a closed courtyard, with outbuildings on either side, a gatehouse, a press house, a dovecote, a well and a terrace. On the upper floor, traces of a rare pair of sundial and moon dial with Latin inscriptions survive. The roofs keep unusual stone dormers carved with double-headed eagles. Outside the walls stands a medieval house, probably the guards' lodging.
Visiting
Tips for your visit
Guided visits of about 45 minutes end with a tasting of four wines. Tours are offered in French, English and Spanish, and groups visit by appointment. Booking ahead is wise. Béru combines easily with Chablis and the Serein valley. Check the official website for opening times.
Around here
What to combine with Château de Béru on the same day, nearest first.
Chablis
7 km awaySaint-Bris
19 km awayIrancy
19 km away
- Food & markets
Marché aux truffes de Noyers
An autumn Sunday, usually in late October, sometimes followed by a second market in NovemberNoyers
Guides about Château de Béru
Questions
Château de Béru is about 1 h 39 from Beaune by road (146 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €370 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? Béru keeps the traces of a sundial and a moon dial side by side on its façade, with Latin inscriptions. The heritage services describe the pair as extremely rare.
Sources
Château de Béru with a private driver
€370 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests