Château de Couches
A medieval fortress above the Creuse valley, with a Flamboyant chapel and its own vineyard.
- Medieval fortress
- 34 min from Beaune
- Open to visitors
- 12th to 15th centuries and 19th century
€360for a half-day wine tour plus one hour, from Beaune, up to 4 guests
At a glance
- Commune
- Couches · Saône-et-Loire
- Style
- Medieval fortress with a Gothic Revival wing
- Heritage
- Registered historic monument
- Official website
- chateaudecouches.com
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 34 min by road (34 km), €120 one way for the whole car.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the château
The Château de Couches guarded the old road from Autun to Chalon, on a shelf above the valley of the Creuse. Its walls and towers date from the 12th to the 15th centuries, joined by a Gothic Revival wing in the 19th century. Today it is a wine estate that welcomes visitors most of the year.
History
The lords of Couches built the fortress from the 12th century and kept enlarging it until the 15th, when it was one of the strongholds of the Duchy of Burgundy. In 1460 Claude de Montagu, lord of Couches, built its Flamboyant Gothic chapel. Like many Burgundian castles, it later lost its defences: it was dismantled in the 17th century, and its outer walls now stand only at waist height.
In the 19th century a new main building went up in Gothic Revival style, roofed with glazed coloured tiles. The castle is often called after Marguerite de Bourgogne, queen of France and wife of Louis X, but her link with Couches belongs to local legend. The whole castle, including its underground passages, is listed as a historic monument, and its vineyard produces Bourgogne Côte du Couchois wines.
Architecture
The castle occupies a large quadrangle, still ringed on three sides by walls cut down to waist height. A tall tower at the south-east corner controlled the original entrance, and a stair turret was later added to it. Between two round towers stands the 1460 chapel, followed by the Gothic Revival living wing with its square towers. Underground passages run beneath the site.
Visiting
Tips for your visit
Couches is open most of the year. Guided, self-guided and audio-guided visits in French and English take in the chapel, towers, courtyards and underground passages, while the residential wing stays private. Visits can end with a tasting of the estate's wines. Allow about 90 minutes. Check the official website for opening times.
Around here
What to combine with Château de Couches on the same day, nearest first.
- Nature and viewpoint
Mont de Sène (Hill of the Three Crosses) Mont de Sène (Montagne des Trois Croix)
9 km away
Questions
Château de Couches is about 34 min from Beaune by road (34 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €120 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? In 1986 the Norwegian band a-ha filmed the video for its song Cry Wolf at the castle, with the director Steve Barron.
Sources
Château de Couches with a private driver
Half-day wine tour plus one hour from Beaune: €360 for the car, up to 4 guests