--- title: "Château de Balleure: Luxury Guest House and History" description: "Manor walled in 1340, birthplace of the historian Pierre de Saint-Julien de Balleure in 1519, now a luxury guest house. Arrive by private driver." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-balleure lang: en updated: 2026-09-29 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/chateaux/chateau-de-balleure.png --- # Château de Balleure > Château de Balleure: Birthplace of the Renaissance historian Pierre de Saint-Julien de Balleure, now a luxury guest house. Château de Balleure is in Étrigny (Saône-et-Loire), 54 min by road (64 km) from Beaune. Hotel and restaurant · 14th century · Private driver from Beaune: €190 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. Balleure stands in the countryside of Étrigny, between Chalon and Tournus. Its towers and gatehouse surround a rectangular courtyard, much as in the 14th century, when its lords were allowed to enclose their house with walls and ditches. Today the main part of the château is a luxury guest house with a table d'hôtes. ## Key facts - Type: Manor - Location: 50 km south of Beaune · Saône-et-Loire - Coordinates: 46.5784, 4.8008 - 54 min from Beaune - Hotel and restaurant - 14th century - Commune: Étrigny · Saône-et-Loire - Style: Medieval fortified manor - Heritage: Registered historic monument - Official website: [chateaudeballeure.com](https://chateaudeballeure.com) - From Beaune: ≈ 54 min · 64 km - €190 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): 54 min by road (64 km), €190 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 In the mid-13th century the land belonged to the Sauvement family. In 1340 Henri de Sauvement obtained permission from the duke of Burgundy to enclose his house with walls and ditches. Later in the 14th century the château passed to the Rabutin d'Épiry family, and early in the 15th century to the Saint-Julien family, whose most famous son took the name of Balleure. Pierre de Saint-Julien de Balleure was born here in 1519 and became a historian of Burgundy. In 1613 the château passed to Charles de Naturel, whose family kept it until the Revolution, and François-Emmanuel de Naturel carried out a partial restoration in 1767. In the 19th century the estate was divided between several owners. In 2014 new owners bought the main part and later opened it to guests. ## Architecture Balleure is laid out on a rectangular plan with round corner towers. On the east stands a rectangular main lodging. The north side has a gate tower, a large square tower and a smaller square tower, while a tall lodging on the west is served by a stair turret. The whole ensemble keeps the compact, enclosed shape of a medieval fortified house. ## Visiting Balleure is a private property run as a luxury guest house, with rooms and a table d'hôtes. It is not open for sightseeing tours, so staying as a guest is the way to see it from the inside. Contact the owners through the official website for bookings, and please respect their privacy otherwise. ## Did you know? The historian Pierre de Saint-Julien de Balleure, born here in 1519, wrote that the lord of nearby Sercy was the richest squire in the whole region. ## Around Château de Balleure What to combine with Château de Balleure on the same day, nearest first. ### Villages - [Viré-Clessé](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/vire-clesse) (15 km away): Two neighbouring villages of the Haut-Mâconnais, joined in one appellation for generous Chardonnay. - [Montagny](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/montagny) (17 km away): A white-only appellation of hillside vineyards around Buxy, with a wealth of premiers crus. - [Givry](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/givry) (23 km away): A small wine town of 18th-century monuments, whose red wine is linked by legend to Henri IV. ### Châteaux - [Château de Brancion](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-brancion) (3 km away): A feudal fortress and car-free medieval village on a rocky spur between Tournus and Cluny. - [Château de Nobles](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-nobles) (4 km away): A manor below Brancion with round towers, cannon ports and a richly carved Renaissance doorway. - [Château de Bresse-sur-Grosne](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-bresse-sur-grosne) (5 km away): A castle with Cistercian wine buildings and a model farm, held by the same family since 1799. ### Things to do - [Saint-Martin Church, Chapaize (Église Saint-Martin de Chapaize)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/eglise-saint-martin-chapaize), 5 km away: An early Romanesque priory church whose tall Lombard bell tower rises over the countryside west of Tournus. - [Les Vignerons de Mancey](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/vignerons-de-mancey-tournus) (8 km away): A growers' cooperative near Tournus, with a free trail on Burgundy wine and tastings of Mâcon-Mancey. - [Saint-Philibert Abbey, Tournus (Abbaye Saint-Philibert de Tournus)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/abbaye-saint-philibert-tournus), 8 km away: One of the great Romanesque churches of France, with unusual crosswise vaults and a complete monastic setting. ### Restaurants - [L’Écrin de Yohann Chapuis](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/l-ecrin-de-yohann-chapuis-tournus) (8 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): An intimate starred dining room in Tournus, from the chef who helped Lameloise win back its third star. - [Aux Terrasses](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/aux-terrasses-tournus) (9 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): A starred family house in Tournus, now in its second generation. - [La Marande](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/la-marande-montbellet) (14 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): A family-run country house in the northern Mâconnais, starred since 2014. ## Questions about Château de Balleure ### How far is Château de Balleure from Beaune? Château de Balleure is about 54 min from Beaune by road (64 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €190 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### Can you visit Château de Balleure? Château de Balleure is a hotel and restaurant: you can stay or dine there, and guests can usually enjoy its grounds. ### Can a private driver take us to Château de Balleure? 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:balleure): €190 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - - - --- Canonical page: