--- title: "Vieux Château de Noyers: How to Visit and What to See" description: "Above the walled village of Noyers, on a rocky spur that closes a tight loop of the river Serein, lie the ruins of the castle of the lords of Noyers." url: https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/vieux-chateau-de-noyers lang: en updated: 2026-10-08 generated: 2026-10-08 image: https://www.cote-privee.com/og/things-to-do/vieux-chateau-de-noyers.png --- # Vieux Château de Noyers > Vieux Château de Noyers: the overgrown ruins of one of Burgundy's great medieval fortresses, on a spur above the Serein, brought back to life by volunteers. Vieux Château de Noyers is in Noyers (Yonne), 1 h 30 by road (128 km) from Beaune. Allow 1 hour · Private driver from Beaune: €330 one way for the whole car, up to 4 guests. Above the walled village of Noyers, on a rocky spur that closes a tight loop of the river Serein, lie the ruins of the castle of the lords of Noyers. Henri IV had it pulled down in 1599, and for four centuries it was left to the woods. Since 1998 a local association has cleared towers and paths, and a signposted walk now leads through the ruins. ## Key facts - Type: Heritage - Where: Noyers · Yonne - Location: 100 km north-west of Beaune · Yonne - Coordinates: 47.7011, 3.9975 - 1 h 30 from Beaune - Allow 1 hour - Noyers - Nearby: [Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/chablis) - Official website: [lepatrimoineoublie.fr](https://lepatrimoineoublie.fr/) - From Beaune: ≈ 1 h 30 · 128 km - €330 one way from Beaune with a [private driver](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver) - Or add it to our [long-day wine tour, €880](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/long-day). ## Getting there - [Private driver from Beaune](https://www.cote-privee.com/private-driver): 1 h 30 by road (128 km), €330 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 11th century the lords of Noyers held a great square keep and a chapel here, with some eighty fiefs depending on the castle. Clarembaud de Noyers surrounded the keep with a wall before leaving with Philip Augustus on the crusade of 1190, where he died. His brother Hugues, bishop of Auxerre, then rebuilt it from 1196 to 1206 as a vast modern fortress, with a lord's residence, a triple enclosure, underground passages and deep ditches, and walled the village below. In 1216 it held out through a siege of several months. At the end of the 13th century Miles X de Noyers, later Marshal of France, placed the castle under the dukes of Burgundy, and in 1419 the duchess bought it outright and had it repaired and armed with cannon. It passed through many hands before the Prince of Condé, leader of the Protestant party, made it a stronghold in the Wars of Religion. Fought over by Catholics and Protestants, then by the Catholic League and the king's men, it was destroyed in 1599 on the orders of Henri IV. In 1998 the association Le Patrimoine Oublié was founded to save what remained. ## What you will see Follow the Ronde des Miles, an hour-long historical walk named after the Miles, the lords of Noyers, many of whom bore that first name. Twelve panels tell the story of the castle as the path winds through the green ruins to viewpoints over the village and the Serein. In the former bailey, the Cour des Artistes displays gargoyles carved during the Gargouillosium, a stone-carving gathering held at the castle every year. Each summer, young volunteers from France and abroad work on clearing and restoring two of the towers. ## Planning your visit Allow about an hour. The ruins are a short walk north of the village of Noyers, reached by the chemin de Bricquotte, about 25 minutes from Chablis and about 1 hour 30 minutes from Beaune. The site is open to walkers, and dogs are welcome. Paths are uneven, so wear walking shoes. Combine the walk with the village squares and the Musée des Arts Naïfs et Populaires. ## Did you know? At the Gargouillosium, some twenty stone carvers each sculpt a gargoyle in three days in front of the public, and some of their works stay on the site. ## Around Vieux Château de Noyers What to combine with Vieux Château de Noyers on the same day, nearest first. ### Villages - [Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/chablis) (19 km away): Burgundy's northern outpost, where Chardonnay grows on fossil-rich limestone above the river Serein. - [Irancy](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/irancy) (25 km away): The red wine village of the Yonne, set in a bowl of vines and cherry trees. - [Saint-Bris](https://www.cote-privee.com/villages/saint-bris) (27 km away): Burgundy's Sauvignon village, built over a maze of medieval cellars. ### Châteaux - [Château de Viviers](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-viviers) (13 km away): A 17th-century wine château on the high slopes east of Chablis, now farmed organically, with guest rooms. - [Château de Béru](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-de-beru) (14 km away): A family château above the Chablis vineyards, with a rare sundial and moon dial, and biodynamic wines. - [Château d’Ancy-le-Franc](https://www.cote-privee.com/chateaux/chateau-d-ancy-le-franc) (14 km away): An Italian Renaissance palace in northern Burgundy, designed by Serlio and lined with painted rooms. ### Things to do - [Noyers-sur-Serein](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/noyers-sur-serein) (1 km away): A walled medieval village in a loop of the Serein, with timber-framed squares and fortified gates. - [Musée des Arts Naïfs et Populaires de Noyers](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/musee-des-arts-naifs-et-populaires-noyers) (1 km away): Naive paintings, ex-votos, tin toys and Hokusai albums on three floors of an old school in the village of Noyers. - [Hôtel-Dieu de Tonnerre](https://www.cote-privee.com/things-to-do/hotel-dieu-de-tonnerre) (17 km away): Said to be the longest medieval hospital in Europe, founded in 1293 by a queen of Sicily. ### Events - **Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 October 2026 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Fête des Vins de Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/fete-des-vins-de-chablis): Chablis celebrates its new vintage every year on the fourth weekend of October. (Wine festival · Chablis) - **An autumn Sunday, usually in late October, sometimes followed by a second market in November.** · [Marché aux truffes de Noyers](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marche-aux-truffes-de-noyers): Burgundy truffles, a giant omelette and a clanging bell in the medieval squares of Noyers. (Food & markets · Noyers) - **Saturday, 24 October 2026 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Marathon de Chablis](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marathon-de-chablis): A festive marathon through the Chablis vineyards, run in costume on the Saturday of the wine festival. (Sport · Chablis) - **A weekend in early December.** · [Marché de Noël de La Chablisienne](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/marche-de-noel-de-la-chablisienne): A weekend of local crafts and festive wines at the cooperative cellar of Chablis before Christmas. (Christmas · Chablis) - **Sunday, 24 January 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Saint-Vincent tournante du Tonnerrois](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/saint-vincent-tournante-du-tonnerrois): The winter wine festival of the Tonnerre growers, hosted by a different village each year. (Tradition · Vézinnes, 2027 host) - **Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 February 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Saint-Vincent tournante du Chablisien](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/saint-vincent-tournante-du-chablisien): The winter wine festival of the Chablis vineyard, hosted by a different village each year. (Tradition · Maligny, 2027 host) - **A weekend in early April.** · [Les Vinées Tonnerroises](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/vinees-tonnerroises): The wine fair of the Tonnerrois, held inside a vast 13th-century hospital. (Wine festival · Tonnerre) - **The last Sunday of April.** · [Balade gourmande du Chablisien](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/balade-gourmande-du-chablisien): A spring walk of about ten kilometres through the Chablis vines, with food and wine stands along the way. (Food & markets · Chablis, route changes each year) - **A few evenings in July.** · [Festival du Chablisien](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/festival-du-chablisien): Summer evening concerts in the churches and barns of the Chablis vineyard. (Music · Chablis and nearby villages) - **Most of July.** · [Rencontres musicales de Noyers](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/rencontres-musicales-de-noyers): Chamber music and masterclasses in a walled medieval village, with local wines poured after the concerts. (Music · Noyers) - **A three-day weekend at the end of July.** · [Gargouillosium](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/gargouillosium-noyers): Twenty stone carvers, three days and a crop of new gargoyles at the old castle of Noyers. (Culture · Noyers) - **Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 August 2027 (Confirmed by the organiser)** · [Musiques en Tonnerrois](https://www.cote-privee.com/events/musiques-en-tonnerrois): A roving festival of chamber music and new works in Tonnerre, a Renaissance château and village churches. (Music · Tonnerre and nearby villages) ## Questions about Vieux Château de Noyers ### How far is Vieux Château de Noyers from Beaune? Vieux Château de Noyers is about 1 h 30 from Beaune by road (128 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €330 for the whole car, up to 4 guests. ### How long does a visit to Vieux Château de Noyers take? For the visit, allow 1 hour. ### When is Vieux Château de Noyers open? Opening days and times change during the year, so check the official website (lepatrimoineoublie.fr) before you go. Your driver can plan the day around them. ### Can a private driver take us to Vieux Château de Noyers? 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. → [Long-day wine tour, €880](https://www.cote-privee.com/wine-tours/long-day) ## Book - [Book a driver here](https://www.cote-privee.com/book?service=driver&place=sight:vieuxchateaunoyers): €330 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests ## Sources - - - - - --- Canonical page: