The château of Époisses

IF you are a lover of châteaux and cheese, Époisses in Burgundy is a delight to visit.

Today the moat has been filled in, and the park a playground for the village children, but these are just some of the chapters in a long and complicated history.

From a fortress to a semi-circular château, Époisses has changed hands many times. In the 6th century Queen Brunehault, regent of Thierry her grandson, king of Burgundy, oversaw it but the queen had her own ambitions, and not wanting to hand over the throne, kept Thierry away with women of easy virtue and clear of too much food and wine.

Saint Columba, staying at the monastery at Luxeuil, visited Epoisses to reprimand Thierry for his behaviour. Brunehault and Thierry tried very hard to pacify the Saint by providing a magnificent banquet, but Saint Columba cursed them so much the dishes on the table shattered.

Much later Époisses passed into the ownership of the Count of Montbard, then through inheritance, to the Mello family who retained possession from 1237 to 1421 when ownership passed to the Montagus. Upon the death of Claude de Montagu, Duke Charles the bold instructed his chancellor, Hugonet, to purchase Époisses.

At this time, King Louis XI of France was busy scheming to bring the duchy under the control of France. The king had Hugonet murdered and his estate was seized, it was passed to the Duchess Mary and then to King Louis XI, who presented it to the Marshal of Hochberg.

Among successive owners were some most distinguished, such as Louis of Orléans, Duke of Longueville, Jacques of Savoie, Duke of Nemours and companion of Henry II who sold Époisses to the Marshal de Bourdillon in 1561 and Louis d’Anssienville, who was forced to abandon Époisses during the French Wars of Religion and later bought back the fortifications that had been built against him. He was made Marquis d’Époisses in 1613 by King Louis XIII.

Finally there was Guillaume de Pechpeyrou, Count of Comminges and Guitaut, Marquis d’Époisses and Louis d’Anssienville’s grandson. Over three centuries later, it is this family, originally from Quercy, who still inhabit the Château d’Époisses today.

The long history of past wars between Burgundy and France, as well as sackings, Crusades and visits by very distinguished personalities that have formed the Château we see today.

The appearance of today’s château is the consequence of the French Revolution. At that time it was an eight sided fortress, of which the first surrounding wall had been demolished. The Committee for Public Safety ordered Charles de Guitat to demolish half the building, allowing half to be retained; it is this that we see today. The rubble from the other half was used to fill in the moat.

This ‘half château’ appearance does not detract from its beauty. A curious balcony was constructed in a day so the Prince de Condé could see his woods from his house when he returned from hunting. The forecourt has kept its houses and outbuildings, the dovecote with its three thousand holes, the parish church and Époisses village school.

The interior of the château brings to life its long history, with the entrance decorated with the coats of arms of successive owners and the picture gallery is hung with the portraits of those from the château’s past.

Related article:
The Époisses cheese and recipe