The Château de Bazoches at first glance would not necessarily get a military buff’s pulse racing… but read on! This grand Burgundian château dates back to the 12th century, when it was first built on the site of an old Roman outpost looking over the Morvan hills.

Photo credit: Wikimedia – Cdiguet CC-SA 3.0

Château de Bazoches

Largely preserved from the 17th century, its elegant interiors reflect the tastes of King Louis XIV’s refined courtiers. However, its most famous owner was far from an aestheticist.

The Seat of Vauban

This owner was Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban who was a field marshal and military strategist of France in the late 17th century. Unparalleled during his time, and arguably in the entirety of French history, Vauban was an influential military engineer. He had a talent for strategizing military fortification.

Vauban’s contribution to the advancement of weaponry during the 17th-century was significant. He was a pioneer in the development of the mortar, the bayonet rifle, and the iron-barrelled cannon.

The gallery of the Château de Bazoches became the nerve center of Vauban’s military plans. Here, he designed his strategies and fortifications using detailed models of bastions, moats, and ravelins. Vauban knew revolutionary weaponry made traditional French cities and castles vulnerable. There are about 300 French cities that owe their design to Vauban, including Bayonne, Lille, and Dunkirk. For a century, military leaders revered and copied his siegecraft.

King Louis XIV awarded Vauban money in 1675 after his success at the siege of Maastricht. This enabled him to buy the Château de Bazoches and its estates, near his childhood home of St-Légèr-Vauban, from his cousin. Vauban renovated the château to his own tastes, and it became a military garrison.

Between plotting military strategies, Vauban authored his “Idlenesses” on topics like agriculture, science, and currency. He wrote the Royal Tithe at Bazoches to protest class privileges and unfair taxation. Publishing the book without royal consent ruined his final weeks.

History of the Château de Bazoches

The Château de Bazoches replaced a Roman military outpost that guarded the road between Autun and Sens. The Romans prized Burgundy’s fertile soil for cultivating vineyards and producing excellent wines.

The original 1180 Château de Bazoches, built by Jean de Saillenay, is still recognizable today. The château has a slightly compressed square shape, which gives it a shorter back than front, and four towers stand at the corners of its tall walls. Overall, the façade of the château is something quite extraordinary – it’s reminiscent of a castle from a fairy tale.

In 1190, leaders announced the Third Crusade at the nearby village of Vézelay, which is just over 10 kilometers from the Château de Bazoches. Led by Kings Richard the Lionheart and Philip II, this Christian call to arms initiated the Third Crusade. Château de Bazoches played its part in the legendary stories about Richard the Lionheart, who stayed at the castle on his way to Vézelay in 1190.

In 1284, the Château de Bazoches assumed a new owner, Jean de Bazoches, who gave the castle its new name. After various French families held the château for centuries, it ultimately passed to the Perrière family. In 1570, the illegitimate daughter of the Count de Bazoches married Jacques Le Prestre de Vauban, who acquired the château.

After a century in the Vauban family, the military strategist Marquis de Vauban bought Château de Bazoches from his cousin. Moving into the property in 1675, Vauban set about improving the interior décor and planning the fortification of French towns from its grand rooms.

Still owned by Vauban’s descendants today, the château has been lovingly preserved by his family and has retained much of its seventeenth century character.

Visit the Château de Bazoches

A tour to the Château de Bazoches will fascinate military enthusiasts. Walk through the grand gallery where Vauban made plans that were put into effect all over France. Also visit the library of this beautiful stately home, containing over 5,000 books.

Château de Bazoches – Bed Chamber

Filled with sumptuous interiors, Château de Bazoches boasts elegant fabrics, expensive paintings, and extravagant chandeliers. Its décor is reflective of the times of King Louis XIV, who was known for living a luxurious life. Its grand chambers feature gilding, rock crystal and silks, as well as showing off beautiful furniture, rugs, and tapestries. Wander through many of his private rooms, including the bedroom, study, and armory to really get a feel for this incredible historical leader.

Château de Bazoches – Grand Gallery

Visitors to the Château can see the gallery that was built by Vauban and he invited his engineers to work here. It was in this room that Vauban drew up plans to intensify the fortification of 300 French towns and cities. He was well-known for using intricate models to plan the fortification of the towns, drafting in the use of bastions, moats, and ravelins.

Photo credit: Wikimedia – Wayne77 CC-SA 4.0

Château de Bazoches

While visiting, don’t miss an opportunity to see the stunning landscaped grounds that surround the château and enjoy views of the surrounding French countryside.

---

French Hotel Barges Cruising the Canal du Nivernais

An excursion to explore the château and its spectacular views is a fitting end, or beginning, to the Classic Cruise aboard French Hotel Barge L’Art de Vivre.

Whether it is your first taste of Burgundy or a repeat visit to this beautiful region, we’re sure that a trip to Bazoches will not disappoint.

Learn more about the Canal du Niverais:

• About the Canal du Nivernais
• Towns & Villages along the Canal du Nivernais
• Best Places to Visit on the Canal du Nivernais

HOME > REGIONS > FRANCE > Visit Château de Bazoches