--- title: "Château de Gros-Chigy: History of a Frontier Stronghold" description: "Rebuilt after 1435 on the frontier of ducal Burgundy and the royal Mâconnais, with a machicolated keep and twin-towered gate. Private, by private driver." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-gros-chigy lang: en updated: 2026-09-29 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/chateaux/chateau-de-gros-chigy.png --- # Château de Gros-Chigy > Château de Gros-Chigy: a late medieval stronghold on the old frontier between ducal Burgundy and the royal Mâconnais. Château de Gros-Chigy is in Saint-André-le-Désert (Saône-et-Loire), 1 h 03 by road (80 km) from Beaune. Private, seen from outside · 15th century · Private driver from Beaune: €225 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. Gros-Chigy stands on a hillside between two hamlets of Saint-André-le-Désert, in the rolling country west of Cluny. Two round towers guard its gate, and a square keep crowned with machicolations rises over the main lodging. For centuries it sat on a disputed frontier and was destroyed and rebuilt several times. ## Key facts - Type: Medieval fortress - Location: 60 km south of Beaune · Saône-et-Loire - Coordinates: 46.5022, 4.5587 - 1 h 03 from Beaune - Private, seen from outside - 15th century - Commune: Saint-André-le-Désert · Saône-et-Loire - Style: Late medieval fortress - Heritage: Registered historic monument - From Beaune: ≈ 1 h 03 · 80 km - €225 one way from Beaune with a [private driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) ## Getting there - [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver): 1 h 03 by road (80 km), €225 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 Between 1171 and 1237 the castle played a key role as the great lords of the region were brought under control. From 1361 to 1477 it was an exposed bolt on the contested frontier between the county of Chalon, held by the duke of Burgundy, and the Mâconnais, held by the king of France. It suffered at least four violent destructions during this period. In 1435 Claudine de Vaux married Guillaume de l'Aubépin, who rebuilt the castle after the previous one had been dismantled by royal order. It passed through the female line to the Rabutin family in the early 17th century, and in 1666 the Champier family bought it. At the Revolution it was sold as national property on condition that it become a farm, and it has since been restored by successive owners. ## Architecture The buildings form an irregular quadrilateral around a central courtyard. The north gate, once protected by drawbridges, stands between two round towers with gun loops, linked by a wall-walk. A long building against the north wall contains a hall divided into three aisles, perhaps the old courtroom. The main lodging on the west is flanked by a square keep with machicolations and a small projecting lookout. ## Visiting Gros-Chigy is a private home and is not open to visitors, so please respect the owners' privacy. It lies in quiet countryside west of Cluny and Cormatin, a pleasant detour for travellers who enjoy back roads, small villages and wide views over the hills of the Clunisois. ## Did you know? A stair tower at Gros-Chigy still shows the slots for the beams of a small drawbridge, and its little door is topped by a coat of arms dated 1570. ## Around Château de Gros-Chigy What to combine with Château de Gros-Chigy on the same day, nearest first. ### Villages - [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. - [Montagny](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/montagny) (24 km away): A white-only appellation of hillside vineyards around Buxy, with a wealth of premiers crus. - [Pouilly-Fuissé](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/pouilly-fuisse) (28 km away): Burgundy's great southern white, grown beneath the limestone cliffs of Solutré and Vergisson. ### Châteaux - [Château de Besanceuil](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-besanceuil) (6 km away): A fortified manor of the 1380s near Cormatin, softened over the centuries with painted panelling. - [Château de Lourdon](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-lourdon) (8 km away): The ruined hilltop fortress of the abbots of Cluny, where the monks once hid their treasures. - [Château de Chaumont](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-chaumont-la-guiche) (10 km away): Home of the La Guiche family since 1416, with one of the largest private stables in France. ### Things to do - [Taizé Community (Communauté de Taizé)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/communaute-de-taize), 9 km away: An ecumenical community of brothers in a Burgundian village, where visitors may join the daily prayer. - [Cluny Market (Marché de Cluny)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/marche-de-cluny), 11 km away: A Saturday morning market in the streets of Cluny's medieval town, right beside the abbey. - [Cluny National Stud (Haras national de Cluny)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/haras-national-de-cluny), 11 km away: A national stud founded under Napoleon, built on the site of Cluny's great abbey church. ## Questions about Château de Gros-Chigy ### How far is Château de Gros-Chigy from Beaune? Château de Gros-Chigy is about 1 h 03 from Beaune by road (80 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €225 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### Can you visit Château de Gros-Chigy? Château de Gros-Chigy 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 de Gros-Chigy? 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. → [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) ## Book - [Book a driver here](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=driver&place=chateau:groschigy): €225 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - --- Canonical page: