BRANCION CASTLE
Medieval Chateau in South Burgundy
Most all the chateaux to be found
in the Burgundy region between the Soane and the Loire Rivers are manor
houses for the grand ages of the 16th-18th centuries.
Houses of gilt and gold, the age of perfume and the guillotine. Many of them
replaced earlier medieval fortresses, now gone to the past. The
Castle ruins of Brancion less than 20 minutes from Tournus along the Burgundy
wine and
castle road is one of the few remaining examples of a medieval French military
fortress castle from the middle ages in the wine region of Bourgogne.
The
Chateau Brancion castle has been in existence since the tenth century,
the stronghold of the Garoux family, perched strategically on a mountain
top
with a commanding
view of the surrounding valley now covered with grape vineyards. The first
occupants of the castle died out during the Crusades (see Hugues
de Payns Museum)
and the fortress
has passed through a number of hands over the centuries, with further fortification
and living improvements. Burgundy was independent from
the King of France in the 15th Century, but in a near constant state of war.
The King eventually reclaimed the duchy of Brancion in 1477. The castle was
burned in the religious wars of the 16th Century.
The
castle has
well preserved walls and surviving turrets overlooking the forested hillsides
from where its commanding view of the landscape remains
undisturbed, viewed through the narrow archer loop-hole slits in its battlements,
a stables and a former prison dungeon and later era ducal lodging with
standing
room fireplace hearths and lead paned windows. A beautiful small church
also
occupies
the
ancient
medieval
town
which surrounds
the walled
fortress and still thrives as the 
living village of Brancion. The drive up
the hill to the castle visible
from a distance leads to a
parking
lot
and
a
short
walk
through
the stone
gates
which can
be crossed from above as the castle former defenders might if attacked, though
the castle now is mostly assaulted by armies of school children from regular
local field trips organized to visit the historic grounds. The castle grounds
are popular for picnics with a basket of cheese and some local wine as a
stop on touring Burduny wine country. Brancion is a short few kilometers
from the curious bicycle museum of Burgundy (see Velo
Museum) and the Chateau of Cormatin (see Chateau
de Cormatin). © Bargain
Travel Europe
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Chateau Brancion
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See Also:
CHÂTEAU DE CHÂTEAUNEUF-EN-AUXOIS
BENDICTINE MONASTERY RUIN - ABBEY CLUNY
TOURNUS ROMANESQUE ABBEY & HOTELS
