--- title: "Château fort de Saint-Romain: Castle Ruins, Walk and Views" description: "Ruins of a castle recorded in the 12th century, later ducal, on a spur facing the Saint-Romain cliffs. A free 30 to 45-minute walk, by private driver." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-fort-de-saint-romain lang: en updated: 2026-09-29 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/chateaux/chateau-fort-de-saint-romain.png --- # Château fort de Saint-Romain > Château fort de Saint-Romain: Medieval castle ruins on a rocky spur, with wide views over the Saint-Romain cliffs. Château fort de Saint-Romain is in Saint-Romain (Côte-d'Or), 17 min by road (13 km) from Beaune. Park or grounds to visit · 12th to 17th centuries (ruins) · Private driver from Beaune: €75 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. Above the wine village of Saint-Romain, the ruins of a medieval castle crown the rocky spur of the upper village, Saint-Romain-le-Haut. The site faces a ring of steep limestone cliffs. It is an open-air stop, and the Beaune tourist office recommends it for a walk among the ruins. ## Key facts - Type: Medieval fortress - Location: 10 km west of Beaune · Côte de Beaune - Coordinates: 46.9974, 4.7106 - 17 min from Beaune - Park or grounds to visit - 12th to 17th centuries (ruins) - Commune: [Saint-Romain · Côte-d'Or](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-romain) - Style: Medieval castle ruins - From Beaune: ≈ 17 min · 13 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 (13 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 People settled on this spur long before the castle. Excavations in the early 1980s found traces of occupation from the 10th or 11th century up to the 17th. The castle itself is recorded from the 12th century, when it belonged to the lords of Saint-Romain. In the 14th century it was acquired by the Dukes of Burgundy, who placed it in the care of a castellan. By the 15th century the fortress was ageing. In 1439 the castellan was called to order for letting the buildings fall into disrepair. The castle slowly lost its purpose after the Middle Ages and was finally dismantled during the Revolution. Archaeologists later uncovered the remains of its chapel, recorded in 1335, and stone coffins from a cemetery on the site. ## Architecture Little stands to full height today. What remains are sections of wall and the outline of the castle on the narrow spur, a natural defensive site protected by steep drops. The excavated chapel measured about 17 by 5 metres. The setting is the real draw: the spur looks across to the cliffs that close the valley around the lower village. ## Visiting The ruins are an open-air site in Saint-Romain-le-Haut, reached on foot from the upper village. Allow 30 to 45 minutes to walk around and enjoy the view. Wear good shoes, as the ground is uneven. The lower village has marked walking trails into the cliffs and vineyards. ## Did you know? Saint-Romain has two villages: the lower one sits at the foot of a ring of cliffs, while the upper one, with the church and castle ruins, perches on the rocky spur opposite. ## Around Château fort de Saint-Romain What to combine with Château fort de Saint-Romain on the same day, nearest first. ### Villages - [Saint-Romain](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-romain) (1 km away): A cliff-ringed village above the Côte de Beaune, known for crisp whites, fresh reds and wide views. - [Auxey-Duresses](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/auxey-duresses) (3 km away): A quiet valley village of supple reds and bright whites, set between wooded hills west of Meursault. - [Monthélie](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/monthelie) (4 km away): A small hillside village between Volnay and Meursault, once compared to a village in Tuscany. ### Châteaux - [Château de Melin](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-melin) (2 km away): A Renaissance manor in a wooded park, now an organic wine estate with guest rooms. - [Château de Monthelie](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-monthelie) (4 km away): An 18th-century château with a glazed tile roof, home of the Suremain family's wine estate. - [Château de Gamay](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-gamay) (5 km away): A medieval fortified house in the hamlet that gave its name to the Gamay grape. ### Things to do - [Ropiteau Frères](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/ropiteau-freres-meursault) (5 km away): A Meursault wine house founded in 1848, ageing its wines in old cellars that once belonged to the Hospices de Beaune. - [Domaine Bernard Delagrange et Fils](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/domaine-bernard-delagrange-meursault) (5 km away): A father-and-son Meursault estate in the old house of a 15th-century ducal physician, over two levels of cellars. - [Domaine Jean Monnier & Fils](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/domaine-jean-monnier-et-fils-meursault) (5 km away): A Meursault family estate with roots in 1696 and a tasting cellar on the town hall square. ### Restaurants - [Auprès du Clocher](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/aupres-du-clocher-pommard) (7 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): Pommard's newly starred table, where the butcher's son cooks beside the church - [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 - [Le Carmin](https://www.cote-privee.com/restaurants/le-carmin-beaune) (10 km away · 1 MICHELIN star): Christophe Quéant's poised, product-first cooking in a Renaissance house on place Carnot ## Questions about Château fort de Saint-Romain ### How far is Château fort de Saint-Romain from Beaune? Château fort de Saint-Romain is about 17 min from Beaune by road (13 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €75 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### Can you visit Château fort de Saint-Romain? Its park or grounds can be visited, while the interior is not usually open. Check its official website before you go. ### Can a private driver take us to Château fort de Saint-Romain? 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:saintromain): Half-day wine tour from Beaune: €290 for the car, up to 4 guests ## Sources - - - --- Canonical page: