--- title: "Château de Morteuil: History and Jacques Copeau’s Troupe" description: "An 18th-century château with square towers where Jacques Copeau's troupe lived and rehearsed in 1924 and 1925. Private, seen by private driver." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-morteuil lang: en updated: 2026-09-29 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/chateaux/chateau-de-morteuil.png --- # Château de Morteuil > Château de Morteuil: a towered 18th-century château south of Beaune where Jacques Copeau's theatre troupe lived. Château de Morteuil is in Merceuil (Côte-d'Or), 17 min by road (12 km) from Beaune. Private, seen from outside · 18th century, on an older castle · Private driver from Beaune: €75 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. The Château de Morteuil stands at the edge of the hamlet of Morteuil, in the commune of Merceuil, on the plain south-east of Meursault. Its main front is framed by square towers, and a pond lies to the south. In 1924 and 1925 it was home to the theatre director Jacques Copeau and his troupe. ## Key facts - Type: Manor - Location: 10 km south of Beaune · Côte-d'Or - Coordinates: 46.9389, 4.8208 - 17 min from Beaune - Private, seen from outside - 18th century, on an older castle - Commune: Merceuil · Côte-d'Or - Style: 18th-century château with square towers - From Beaune: ≈ 17 min · 12 km - €290 for a [half-day wine tour](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/half-day) from Beaune, up to 4 guests ## Getting there - [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver): 17 min by road (12 km), €75 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 lordship of Morteuil is first recorded in 1481, when François de Ferrières gave his brother Jehan the fortified houses and lordships of several places, including Morteuil. The château itself is mentioned in 1618. It was largely rebuilt in the 18th century, and in 1766 it belonged to Henri de Riollet, who lived there. In 1794 its gunports were walled up during the Revolution. On 13 September 1924 Jacques Copeau, founder of the Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier in Paris, settled at Morteuil with his young troupe. The house was in poor repair and the ground turned to marsh after rain, but the rent was low. The actors rehearsed on a small stage in the main hall. They left at the end of 1925 for Pernand-Vergelesses. ## Architecture The château is long and rectangular, framing a courtyard with two outbuildings, with a pond further south. The north front has one upper floor, flanked by two square towers of two storeys, with a round-arched carriage door at its centre. A gunport beside the door recalls the building's defensive past. To the south, two wings end in square towers. ## Visiting The château is private and cannot be visited. You can see its towered front from the lane that leads to it from the road. Copeau's later home at Pernand-Vergelesses, where the troupe settled after Morteuil, is a natural next stop for theatre lovers. ## Did you know? Copeau's troupe, later known as les Copiaus, rehearsed on a small stage set up in the château's main hall during its stay in 1924 and 1925. ## Around Château de Morteuil What to combine with Château de Morteuil on the same day, nearest first. ### Villages - [Puligny-Montrachet](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/puligny-montrachet) (5 km away): Home of Montrachet and three more grands crus, Puligny makes some of the world's most admired white wines. - [Meursault](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/meursault) (6 km away): The great white-wine village of the Côte de Beaune, with a glazed-tile town hall and 19 premiers crus. - [Blagny](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/blagny) (6 km away): A tiny hilltop hamlet between Meursault and Puligny, with a rare red appellation and celebrated white premiers crus. ### Châteaux - [Château de Corcelles](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-corcelles-les-arts) (2 km away): A small Gothic castle with a gate tower and dovecote, on the plain facing Meursault. - [Château de Cissey](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-cissey) (4 km away): An elegant 18th-century brick and stone house on the plain south of Beaune, beside a medieval chapel. - [Château de Puligny-Montrachet](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-puligny-montrachet) (5 km away): A 17th-century château with its own walled vines in the white wine village of Puligny. ### Things to do - [Domaine Jeannot](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/domaine-jeannot-meursault) (5 km away): A young family estate in Meursault, built up since 1997 by Valérie and Philippe Jeannot and their son Quentin. - [Olivier Leflaive](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/olivier-leflaive-puligny-montrachet) (5 km away): A Puligny-Montrachet wine house founded in 1984, with sommelier-led tastings on the village square. - [Le Caveau de Meursault – Moillard](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/caveau-moillard-meursault) (5 km away): A modern tasting space at the entrance to Meursault, run by the Moillard wine house. ### Restaurants - [Maison Lameloise](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/maison-lameloise-chagny) (6 km away · 3 MICHELIN stars): Burgundy's only three-star table, in a former coaching inn twenty minutes south of Beaune. - [Ed.Em](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/ed-em-chassagne-montrachet) (7 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): A starred couple's table in the heart of Montrachet country, with 600 wines to match - [Table de Levernois](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/table-de-levernois) (7 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): A Relais & Châteaux country house outside Beaune, with its own kitchen garden and 1,800 wines ## Questions about Château de Morteuil ### How far is Château de Morteuil from Beaune? Château de Morteuil is about 17 min from Beaune by road (12 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €75 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### Can you visit Château de Morteuil? Château de Morteuil 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 Morteuil? 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. → [Half-day wine tour, €290](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/half-day) ## Book - [Book a driver here](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=wine-tour&option=half&place=chateau:morteuil): Half-day wine tour from Beaune: €290 for the car, up to 4 guests ## Sources - - --- Canonical page: