--- title: "Château de Lourdon: Visit, Opening Times & History" description: "Ruined stronghold of the abbots of Cluny, blown up in 1632, with a real-tennis hall of 1586. Free guided visits summer Thursdays, by private driver." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-lourdon lang: en updated: 2026-09-29 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/chateaux/chateau-de-lourdon.png --- # Château de Lourdon > Château de Lourdon: the ruined hilltop fortress of the abbots of Cluny, where the monks once hid their treasures. Château de Lourdon is in Lournand (Saône-et-Loire), 1 h 05 by road (83 km) from Beaune. Open to visitors · 10th to 16th century · Private driver from Beaune: €230 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. On a hill five kilometres north of Cluny stand the ruins of Lourdon, for centuries the stronghold of the abbots of Cluny. Blown up in 1632, it keeps a wall of the abbot's lodging, a 16th-century real-tennis hall and fragments of towers. Volunteers are uncovering its story and lead visits in summer. ## Key facts - Type: Medieval fortress - Location: 65 km south of Beaune · Saône-et-Loire - Coordinates: 46.4604, 4.6468 - 1 h 05 from Beaune - Open to visitors - 10th to 16th century - Commune: Lournand · Saône-et-Loire - Style: Medieval fortress (ruins) - Official website: [chateaudelourdon.fr](http://chateaudelourdon.fr) - From Beaune: ≈ 1 h 05 · 83 km - €230 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 05 by road (83 km), €230 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 Lourdon is recorded in the late 9th century, and its land was linked to the foundation of the abbey of Cluny in 910. From the 11th century the abbots often stayed here. The castle was coveted by local lords and seized several times in the 12th century, which led kings Louis VII and Philip Augustus to intervene in favour of the abbey. From the 14th century the castle sheltered the monks, their library, their archives and their treasure in times of danger. It was ravaged by royal troops in 1470 and occupied by those of Charles the Bold, then restored by Abbot Jean de Bourbon. Protestants seized it in 1574 and left it in ruins. From 1586 Abbot Claude de Guise rebuilt it and added a real-tennis hall. After a successful defence in 1613, the Estates of the Mâconnais called for the fortress to be dismantled. In 1632, when Cardinal Richelieu was abbot of Cluny, its fortified parts were blown up with mines, sparing the abbot's lodging, the stables and the tennis hall. Sold in 1791, the ruins have stayed in the same family, and since 2013 the association Castrum Lordo has cared for them. ## Architecture The ruins occupy a platform of about one hectare. Archaeologists picture a fortress whose inner walls measured about 100 by 70 metres, dominated by a great round tower 18 metres wide. Today you can see a tall wall of the abbot's lodging, the restored powder tower and the 40-metre hall of the real-tennis court of 1586, while traces of a long outer wall with twelve towers remain. ## Visiting The ruins are private, but the association Castrum Lordo leads free guided visits on Thursday mornings in July and August. Places are limited, and booking through the Cluny tourist office is required. Visits last about two hours on uneven ground, so good mobility and walking shoes are needed. Check the official website for dates. ## Did you know? In 1590 Abbot Claude de Guise had bells of Cluny abbey melted down to cast a great cannon for Lourdon. The gun is now kept at the Invalides in Paris. ## Around Château de Lourdon What to combine with Château de Lourdon 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. - [Pouilly-Fuissé](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/pouilly-fuisse) (21 km away): Burgundy's great southern white, grown beneath the limestone cliffs of Solutré and Vergisson. - [Saint-Véran](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-veran) (24 km away): Fresh Chardonnay from villages that wrap around Pouilly-Fuissé, beneath the Roche de Solutré. ### Châteaux - [Château de Boutavent](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-boutavent) (5 km away): A spur-top castle that guarded the Grosne valley for the lords of Brancion, then for Cluny. - [Château de Gros-Chigy](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-gros-chigy) (8 km away): A late medieval stronghold on the old frontier between ducal Burgundy and the royal Mâconnais. - [Château de Berzé-le-Châtel](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-berze-le-chatel) (9 km away): The largest medieval fortress of southern Burgundy, built to shield Cluny, with terraced gardens and its own wine. ### Things to do - [Cluny National Stud (Haras national de Cluny)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/haras-national-de-cluny), 3 km away: A national stud founded under Napoleon, built on the site of Cluny's great abbey church. - [Cluny Market (Marché de Cluny)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/marche-de-cluny), 3 km away: A Saturday morning market in the streets of Cluny's medieval town, right beside the abbey. - [Cluny Abbey (Abbaye de Cluny)](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/abbaye-de-cluny), 3 km away: The remains of the largest church in medieval Christendom, heart of a monastic order that spread across Europe. ### Events - **Six days around the turn of July and August; the 2026 festival ran from 28 July to 2 August.** · [Festival de Lournand](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/festival-de-lournand): Six summer evenings of theatre, circus and music on a village square just north of Cluny. (Culture · Lournand) ## Questions about Château de Lourdon ### How far is Château de Lourdon from Beaune? Château de Lourdon is about 1 h 05 from Beaune by road (83 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €230 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### Can you visit Château de Lourdon? Yes, Château de Lourdon welcomes visitors. Opening days and times change with the seasons, so check its official website before you go. ### Can a private driver take us to Château de Lourdon? 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:lourdon): €230 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - - - - - --- Canonical page: