Clan Rising
Château de Bazoches today

France · Still standing

Château de Bazoches

The Château de Bazoches is a medieval castle in the village of Bazoches in Burgundy, France, built from 1180 and repeatedly altered through the centuries. Purchased and extensively upgraded by the military engineer Vauban in the late 17th century, it remains private property and a listed historic building.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1685

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1685

What Château de Bazoches looked like in its prime.

A trapezoidal fortified plan defined by four corner towers and a taller central keep, all enclosing an inner courtyard with continuous curtain walls joining the towers. The massing presents a compact medieval silhouette sited within the village of Bazoches in Burgundy; the fabric is dressed local stone masonry with a mix of crenellated defensive parapets and later domestic rooflines added during 17th‑century upgrades by Vauban. In 1685 the castle is complete and actively occupied.

Its story

The story of Château de Bazoches.

The original castle at Bazoches was built in 1180 by Jean de Saillenay, on the site of a Roman outpost guarding the road between Autun and Sens, then the administrative centre of Gallia Lugdunensis. Sold to Jean de Bazoches in 1284, it was owned successively by the Chastellux, Montmorillon and La Perrière families, and altered repeatedly across the centuries.

In 1570 Jacques Le Prestre de Vauban acquired the castle through his marriage to Françoise de la Perrière, an illegitimate daughter of the Count de Bazoches; in the late 17th century the great military engineer Vauban purchased and extensively upgraded it. The château remains private property and a listed historic building.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1685.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Château de Bazoches, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the village laneMain gateway and outer forecourtInner courtyardBase of the central keepCurtain wall and battlement walkBase of a corner tower

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Château de Bazoches with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1685, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Whose castle

Clans who held Château de Bazoches.

The families that held Château de Bazoches for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Saillenay

    Jean de Saillenay built the castle in 1180; it was sold out of the family in 1284.

  • Bazoches

    Bought by Jean de Bazoches in 1284.

  • Chastellux

    One of the successive owning families after the castle's 1284 sale.

  • Montmorillon

    One of the successive owning families between the 13th and 16th centuries.

  • La Perrière

    Held until 1570, when Françoise de la Perrière's marriage carried it to the Le Prestre de Vauban family.

  • Vauban

    Acquired by marriage by Jacques Le Prestre de Vauban in 1570; the engineer Vauban upgraded it in the late 17th century.

Questions about Château de Bazoches

What is the history of Château de Bazoches?

Château de Bazoches was first built in the 12th century as a fortified site on a Roman outpost guarding the road between Autun and Sens. Jean de Saillenay built it in 1180, and it was sold to Jean de Bazoches in 1284. The Chastellux, Montmorillon and La Perrière families later owned it, before Vauban purchased and extensively upgraded it in the late 17th century.

What is inside Château de Bazoches?

Inside Château de Bazoches are a bedroom, a library and Vauban’s armour, along with a large gallery built for his military engineers. The castle’s domestic and interior arrangements were modified during Vauban’s ownership. Its chapel contains a painting by Jean Senelle, and the château also displays works associated with Hyacinthe Rigaud, Adam Frans van der Meulen and Louis Gabois.

Who owns Château de Bazoches now?

Château de Bazoches is owned by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. It remains private property, and it has been classified as a listed historic building since 1994. The castle is also designated as a Maisons des Illustres site.

Why was Château de Bazoches built, and what was it used for?

Château de Bazoches was built as a fortified position on a Roman outpost guarding the road between Autun and Sens. Its purpose later expanded under Vauban, who modified the castle and built a large gallery for military engineers. The engineers used it to prepare studies and plans for the many fortified places Vauban developed during his career.

Where is Château de Bazoches?

Château de Bazoches is in the village of Bazoches, in Burgundy, within the modern region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. It stands in the Nièvre department, near Avallon, with views towards the Morvan and the hill of Vézelay. The village itself is the nearest named settlement given for the castle.

What did Château de Bazoches look like in its prime?

Château de Bazoches has a compact trapezoidal fortified plan with four corner towers and a taller central keep around an inner courtyard. Continuous curtain walls join the towers, while the fabric is dressed local stone masonry. Its silhouette combines crenellated defensive parapets with later domestic rooflines added during Vauban’s 17th-century upgrades.

Is Château de Bazoches still standing or is it a ruin?

Château de Bazoches is still standing and intact, rather than a ruin. Its trapezoidal plan, corner towers, central keep and curtain walls survive as a complete castle. The building was altered repeatedly across the centuries, including extensive upgrades by Vauban in the late 17th century.

Who built Château de Bazoches?

Château de Bazoches was built by Jean de Saillenay in 1180. It occupied the site of an earlier Roman outpost, but no separate architect or designer is named. Vauban later altered and extensively upgraded the castle in the late 17th century.

Which family or clan held Château de Bazoches?

The Saillenay family held Château de Bazoches from its construction until it was sold in 1284. Jean de Bazoches then bought it, followed successively by the Chastellux, Montmorillon and La Perrière families. Jacques Le Prestre de Vauban acquired it by marriage in 1570, and Vauban later upgraded the castle in the late 17th century.
All castles of France · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.