Château de Posanges
A compact moated castle with four round towers, built in the 1440s for a ducal servant.
- Medieval fortress
- 54 min from Beaune
- Private, seen from outside
- 15th century
€190one way from Beaune with a private driver
At a glance
- Commune
- Posanges · Côte-d'Or
- Style
- Medieval fortress
- Heritage
- Listed historic monument
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 54 min by road (65 km), €190 one way for the whole car.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the château
Posanges is a small village in the valley of the Brenne, about an hour from Beaune. Its castle gives a clear picture of a 15th-century Burgundian stronghold: a square of walls, four round towers and a wide moat. It is private property, admired from outside, and opens only on rare occasions.
History
In 1437 Guillaume du Bois, a lord from the Berry region, acquired the lordship of Posanges. He had served John the Fearless and then Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, who made him his maître d'hôtel. At Posanges he built a fortified home worthy of his rank, in the years between 1437 and 1453.
The castle has changed little since. Its good state earned it an early protection: it was listed as a historic monument in 1913, one of the first privately owned castles in France to receive this status. It has been restored since 1980. The large dovecote nearby, with about 1,140 nesting holes, was listed in 1965 and regained its stone roof in 2013.
Architecture
The castle forms a slightly irregular square, about 35 metres on each side. Four round towers stand at the corners, linked by high curtain walls with very few openings. The gate, on the north side, is topped by a bretèche, a small overhanging defence. A moat about 15 metres wide, fed by the Brenne, surrounds the whole, which gives Posanges its severe, almost untouched medieval profile.
Visiting
Tips for your visit
The castle is private and is not open for regular visits, though it has opened on some European Heritage Days. It fits easily into a drive between Châteauneuf, Flavigny-sur-Ozerain and Bussy-Rabutin. Check with the local tourist office for any opening dates.
Around here
What to combine with Château de Posanges on the same day, nearest first.
Questions
Château de Posanges is about 54 min from Beaune by road (65 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €190 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? When Posanges was listed in 1913, it was among the very first privately owned castles in France to receive Monument historique status, thanks to its excellent state of preservation.
Sources
Château de Posanges with a private driver
€190 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests