Château de Mont-Saint-Jean
A hilltop medieval stronghold with a keep and ramparts, above a village of old stone houses.
- Medieval fortress
- 50 min from Beaune
- Private, seen from outside
- 12th to 15th centuries
€175one way from Beaune with a private driver
At a glance
- Commune
- Mont-Saint-Jean · Côte-d'Or
- Style
- Medieval fortress
- Heritage
- Listed historic monument
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 50 min by road (58 km), €175 one way for the whole car.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the château
Mont-Saint-Jean is a hilltop village of the southern Auxois, about an hour from Beaune. Its castle stands on a spur about a hundred metres above the Serein, with a keep, towers and ramparts that span the 12th to 15th centuries. The castle is a private home, but the village and its walls make a rewarding stop.
History
The spur was fortified very early, and in 924 Raoul, Duke of Burgundy and King of the Franks, besieged Mont-Saint-Jean. A family of lords took their name from the place. In 1180 Hugues, lord of Mont-Saint-Jean, is recorded in an agreement of mutual assistance, and in 1305 Étienne de Mont-Saint-Jean acknowledged that the castle must be opened to the duke on demand.
In 1358 the castle was exchanged with Girard de Montbelet. In 1456 Duke Philip the Good grouped Mont-Saint-Jean with other lordships, including Charny and Montfort, into a county for his chamberlain Pierre de Bauffremont. The castle and its moats were classified as a historic monument in 1930, and its rampart walls and towers were listed in 1936. It remains in private hands.
Architecture
At the heart of the fortress stands a rectangular keep flanked by four round towers. Around it runs an enclosure with round and rectangular towers, linked by walls with firing positions. Inside are a chapel, a cistern and latrine towers. The Romanesque church and its cemetery lie within the outer walls. Built and altered between the 12th and 15th centuries, it is a well-preserved feudal stronghold.
Visiting
Tips for your visit
The castle is private and is not open for regular visits. The village is well worth a stroll: ramparts, a church of the 12th and 15th centuries, 15th and 16th-century houses, crosses and wash houses. Allow an hour on foot. It combines well with Thil and Saulieu. Check with the local tourist office for any opening dates.
Around here
What to combine with Château de Mont-Saint-Jean on the same day, nearest first.
Questions
Château de Mont-Saint-Jean is about 50 min from Beaune by road (58 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €175 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? In 924, Raoul, who was both Duke of Burgundy and King of the Franks, laid siege to Mont-Saint-Jean, which shows how early this hilltop was already a stronghold.
Sources
Château de Mont-Saint-Jean with a private driver
€175 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests