Château de Gros-Chigy

History

Between 1171 and 1237 the castle played a key role as the great lords of the region were brought under control. From 1361 to 1477 it was an exposed bolt on the contested frontier between the county of Chalon, held by the duke of Burgundy, and the Mâconnais, held by the king of France. It suffered at least four violent destructions during this period.

In 1435 Claudine de Vaux married Guillaume de l'Aubépin, who rebuilt the castle after the previous one had been dismantled by royal order. It passed through the female line to the Rabutin family in the early 17th century, and in 1666 the Champier family bought it. At the Revolution it was sold as national property on condition that it become a farm, and it has since been restored by successive owners.

Architecture

The buildings form an irregular quadrilateral around a central courtyard. The north gate, once protected by drawbridges, stands between two round towers with gun loops, linked by a wall-walk. A long building against the north wall contains a hall divided into three aisles, perhaps the old courtroom. The main lodging on the west is flanked by a square keep with machicolations and a small projecting lookout.