Château de Couches

The origins of the Château de Couches date back to the 11th century, when the lords of Couches, starting with Gaudry, began constructing the fortress. In the 12th century, the castle came into the possession of Hugues, Lord of La Roche-Nolay, through marriage, whose great-grandson expanded the complex in the 13th century. At the end of the same century, Marie de Couches received the castle as a dowry and married Étienne I de Bourgogne-Montaigu. In 1471, Claude de Montaigu, a descendant, fell in the Battle of Buxy, after which the fortress passed to his grand-cousin Claude II de Blaisy. A dark episode occurred in 1590 when Antoine du Prat captured and plundered the castle, killing the entire garrison, after which the fortress was dismantled. In the 19th century, specifically 1844, Count Odet-Louis-Joseph de Montagu acquired the dilapidated castle and initiated extensive renovation work. Since 2009, the Château has been privately owned and is being restored and enhanced by the Poelaert couple.

The castle is located in Couches, a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the Bourgogne (Burgundy) region of France, at an elevation of approximately 306 meters above sea level.

The Château de Couches is privately owned and is a registered French historical monument. Visitors today can explore parts of the complex, including the tall tower from the 12th century, the late Gothic chapel from 1460, and the residential buildings rebuilt in the “Troubadour” style in the 19th century. The castle is also part of a vineyard that produces wines of the Bourgogne côte-du-couchois appellation.

• Château de Montpatey (castle), approx. 2.2 km away
• Château de Chamilly (castle), approx. 7.7 km away
• Château de Meursault (castle), approx. 18.8 km away
• Château fort de Meursault (castle), approx. 18.8 km away