Château de Marigny-le-Cahouët
A moated castle of the plain, with towers, a drawbridge and a Gothic Revival gate.
- Medieval fortress
- 59 min from Beaune
- Private, seen from outside
- 12th to 19th centuries
€210one way from Beaune with a private driver
At a glance
- Commune
- Marigny-le-Cahouët · Côte-d'Or
- Style
- Medieval fortress with Gothic Revival restoration
- Heritage
- Registered historic monument
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 59 min by road (73 km), €210 one way for the whole car.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the château
Marigny-le-Cahouët lies about an hour from Beaune and a short drive from Semur-en-Auxois. Its castle is a fortress of the plain, protected by moats rather than a hilltop. Its drawbridge, Gothic Revival gate and long avenue are all protected. It is private and not open to visitors.
History
The castle was begun in the 12th century and largely remodelled in the 15th and 17th centuries. Built on flat ground, it relied on water rather than height, and its moats and walls were its main defence. As weapons changed, it was adapted to culverins, arquebuses, muskets and increasingly powerful cannon, hence the mix of medieval and later features it shows today.
In the middle of the 19th century the castle was restored in the Gothic Revival style. The monumental entrance gate dates from this campaign, and the names of the architect and the builder are carved on its pillars. The castle was listed as a historic monument in 1929. In 2008 the listing was extended to the gate, the avenue, the moats and the drawbridge.
Architecture
Water-filled moats, fed by a branch of a small river, surround the castle, and a drawbridge still crosses them. The Gothic Revival gate, set between two pillars topped with pinnacles, opens from a half-moon forecourt closed by a low wall and railings. Its wrought-iron double doors are decorated with scrolls, and a small pedestrian door is set into one leaf.
Visiting
Tips for your visit
The castle is a private home and is not open to the public, even on Heritage Days, so please respect the owners' privacy. Marigny combines well with Posanges, Semur-en-Auxois and Flavigny-sur-Ozerain on a drive through the Auxois. Check with the local tourist office for information on the area.
Around here
What to combine with Château de Marigny-le-Cahouët on the same day, nearest first.
Questions
Château de Marigny-le-Cahouët is about 59 min from Beaune by road (73 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €210 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? The architect and the builder who made Marigny's 19th-century gate signed their work: both names are carved into the stone pillars on either side of the entrance.
Sources
Château de Marigny-le-Cahouët with a private driver
€210 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests