The castle of Monthelon is located in the town of Monthelon, in Saône-et-Loire, 7 km northwest of Autun.
Located on the banks of the Selle, it was built in the 15th century and takes the form of a fortified house composed of a rectangular dwelling flanked by two round towers projecting from the facade facing north-east (which dominates the valley). As for the main facade, it overlooks a courtyard but neither the original defensive wall nor the ditch have been preserved.
Note that a stone staircase and a porch lead to a double door framed by windows with molded frames.
Above this entrance, a sculpted bas-relief represents the arms of the Rabutin-Chantal family, who acquired the seigneury and the castle in 1580, as well as their motto: "Virtue increases through wounds ". We also note that a gallery with Renaissance decor was added in the 16th century upstairs. To the north of the castle, a chapel with bell tower was also added.
In the 17th century, Jeanne de Chantal, heiress of the place and widow of a president of the Dijon parliament, welcomed the future Saint François de Salles to these places.
Before the Revolution, the property belonged to Antoine Chartraire de Montigny, Treasurer of the Estates of Burgundy, who sold the estate before being arrested.
He had had the opportunity before that to restore the castle and fill in the ditches.
Nowadays, Monthelon's castle is still private. Listed in the Inventory, it is not open to visitors. The exteriors of the estate can however mark out a walk during a stopover in this village which is one of the gates of the Morvan. Warning: do not confuse with the castle of Monthelon located in Yonne.
Information on +33 3 85 86 80 38.
