Château de Chevreaux
The Château de Chevreaux is a ruined castle in the commune of Chevreaux in the Jura département of France. At an altitude of 473 m, the castle dominates the Bresse plain.
History
In 974, Manassès III, Lord of Coligny, gave his lands of "Chevrel" and "Chastel" to the monks of the Abbey of Gigny-sur-Suran. The castle was mentioned for the first time in 1158 in a document by the monks of the Abbaye du Miroir. It was the seat of a seigneurie that belonged successively to three families: Coligny (from its construction until 1332), Vienne (from 1332 to 1651), and then Damas.
A document from 1628 reported, "The castle and fortified house of Chevreaux, well served with towers and a good defensive curtain wall, where there are twelve rooms with fires, a chapel, a kitchen, wine store, and five or six barns and good vaulted cellars, along with stables, ovens, bakery and beautiful gardens."[1]
On 2 April 1637, during the Ten Years' War in Franche-Comté, the Duke of Longueville besieged the castle, which he captured, pillaged and destroyed. The keep which had resisted his cannons was undermined and the fortifications were demolished.
Since 1990, the castle has benefited from restoration works. It is open to the public all year.
See also
References
- « Le château et maison forte de Chevreaux, bien revêtu de tours et muraille en bonne défense, où il y a douze chambres à feu, une chapelle, cuisine, sommellerie, et cinq ou six greniers et belles caves voutées, ensemble des écuries, fours, chambre de boulangerie et beau jardinage. »
External links
- Association "Les amis de Chevreaux Châtel": The Association to protect and repair architectural heritage. It organises courses for volunteer workers and youth. (in French)
- Château de Chevreaux: Official website (in French)