--- title: "Château d’Estours: History of a Moated Fortified House" description: "Held by the Écorcheurs from 1437 to 1443, burned by Mâcon militias in 1479, this moated house was fully listed in 2018. Private, by private driver." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-d-estours lang: en updated: 2026-09-29 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/chateaux/chateau-d-estours.png --- # Château d’Estours > Château d’Estours: a moated fortified house south of Mâcon, fought over by Écorcheurs and Mâcon militias. Château d’Estours is in Crêches-sur-Saône (Saône-et-Loire), 1 h 22 by road (113 km) from Beaune. Private, seen from outside · 15th century · Private driver from Beaune: €295 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. The château of Estours stands south-east of Crêches-sur-Saône, between two arms of a stream, still ringed by water-filled moats. Only the north and west wings survive, with square towers, a hexagonal stair tower and a great round tower. It was listed in its entirety as a historic monument in 2018. ## Key facts - Type: Manor - Location: 85 km south of Beaune · Saône-et-Loire - Coordinates: 46.2408, 4.7900 - 1 h 22 from Beaune - Private, seen from outside - 15th century - Commune: Crêches-sur-Saône · Saône-et-Loire - Style: Moated fortified house - Heritage: Registered historic monument - From Beaune: ≈ 1 h 22 · 113 km - €295 one way from Beaune with a [private driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) - Or add it to our [full-day wine tour plus two hours, €700](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/full-day). ## Getting there - [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver): 1 h 22 by road (113 km), €295 one way for the whole car. Coming by train or plane? [Transfers from stations and airports](https://www.cote-privee.com/transfers) Estimates per vehicle for up to 4 guests, tolls included. Your price is confirmed when you book. ## History The first known lords of Estours, in the 15th century, were Duran and Renaud de Feurs, from a Lyon family. Between 1437 and 1443, despite a garrison of twelve men placed there by Mâcon, the bands known as the Écorcheurs got in and held the castle. In 1479 the Mâcon militias pillaged and burned it in revenge for a surrender to royal troops that they judged too hasty. Partly rebuilt at the end of the 15th century, Estours stayed with the descendants of Renaud de Feurs until 1561. In 1713 it was bought by Louis Durret, who had the Lyon architect Michel-Ange Caristie repair and transform it in 1725. In 1870 and 1871 a later owner demolished the south wing and its chapel. From 1974 Jean Melinand restored the château himself. ## Architecture The château occupies an irregular quadrilateral surrounded by water-filled moats. The north wing has square towers at each end of its moat front, and a stone bridge leads to a carriage gate under the north tower. The west wing combines a 15th-century block with a round corner turret and a narrower range of outbuildings, ending in a great round tower that may be the original keep. ## Visiting Estours is a private home and is not open to visitors, so please respect the owners' privacy. It lies just south of Mâcon, a few minutes from the Saint-Véran and Pouilly-Fuissé vineyards, so you may pass it on the way to a tasting. ## Did you know? In the early 19th century Estours belonged to Louis Charrier de La Roche, bishop of Versailles, who still owned it when he died in 1827. ## Around Château d’Estours What to combine with Château d’Estours on the same day, nearest first. ### Villages - [Saint-Véran](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-veran) (4 km away): Fresh Chardonnay from villages that wrap around Pouilly-Fuissé, beneath the Roche de Solutré. - [Pouilly-Fuissé](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/pouilly-fuisse) (6 km away): Burgundy's great southern white, grown beneath the limestone cliffs of Solutré and Vergisson. - [Viré-Clessé](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/vire-clesse) (23 km away): Two neighbouring villages of the Haut-Mâconnais, joined in one appellation for generous Chardonnay. ### Châteaux - [Château de Vinzelles](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-vinzelles) (4 km away): Two neighbouring castles above Vinzelles, linked by a vat house with great wooden wine presses. - [Château de Fuissé](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-fuisse) (6 km away): The Vincent family's historic estate in Pouilly-Fuissé, home of the appellation's only monopole premier cru. - [Château de Chasselas](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-chasselas) (7 km away): A three-towered castle with glazed-tile roofs in the Saint-Véran hills, long the heart of a wine estate. ### Things to do - [Cave de Vinzelles-Loché](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/cave-de-vinzelles-loche) (4 km away): The 1929 cooperative of Vinzelles and Loché, where three Pouilly appellations can be tasted side by side. - [Domaine Luquet Depuis 1878](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/domaine-luquet-fuisse) (6 km away): A family estate in the heart of Fuissé since 1878, with six generations of Pouilly-Fuissé and Saint-Véran. - [Église Saint-Pierre de Mâcon](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/eglise-saint-pierre-macon) (8 km away): Mâcon's largest church, a neo-Romanesque landmark whose twin spires rise above the Saône. ### Restaurants - [L’Auberge du Cep](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/auberge-du-cep-fleurie) (9 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): A historic inn in the Beaujolais cru village of Fleurie, starred again since 2021. - [La Table de Chaintré](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/la-table-de-chaintre) (3 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): One menu a week, one husband-and-wife team, in a former village grocery near Mâcon. - [L’O des Vignes](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/l-o-des-vignes-fuisse) (6 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): A Meilleur Ouvrier de France cooking in the heart of Pouilly-Fuissé. ## Questions about Château d’Estours ### How far is Château d’Estours from Beaune? Château d’Estours is about 1 h 22 from Beaune by road (113 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €295 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### Can you visit Château d’Estours? Château d’Estours is private and not open to visitors. You can see it from the road or the village, and your driver can stop there on the way. ### Can a private driver take us to Château d’Estours? Yes. Your driver collects you in Beaune or at your hotel in an electric Polestar 2 (up to 4 guests), waits while you visit and plans the rest of the day with you. The driver speaks English, French, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic. → [Full-day wine tour plus two hours, €700](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/full-day) ## Book - [Book a driver here](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=driver&place=chateau:estours): €295 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - --- Canonical page: