The vestiges of the 18th-century Chateau de Cussigny, a regional historical monument,
surrounded by its outbuildings and 7-hectare grounds along the banks of a river, near Beaune in Burgundy
surrounded by its outbuildings and 7-hectare grounds along the banks of a river, near Beaune in Burgundy
Beaune,
COTE-D'OR
burgundy
21200
FR
Location
In the centre of Burgundy and the south of the Côte-d’Or department, near Beaune and its Unesco-classified vineyards, the Chateau de Cussigny is located 3 hours by car from Paris, 1.5 hours from Lyon, 2.5 hours from Geneva and 45 minutes from Dijon. With easy access to the motorway as well as high-speed rail lines, all essential food businesses and services for daily life are only 10 minutes away by car. In addition, the surrounding area includes multiple tourist attractions, forming an environment known for its gastronomy, variety of natural and historical landscapes as well as cultural activities, the whole located within a thriving employment area.
Description
Secluded from the nearby village, the chateau and its outbuildings are protected from all disturbances, while the small country roads that provide access to the property traverse the neighbouring fields before reaching a straight lane bordered by tall trees as it gets closer to the grounds. With only the edifices’ flat, small tile roofs visible on the left, the property has cloaked its ruined historical vestiges in abundant vegetation as it awaits its next owners to provide it with a new lease on life.
An initial square courtyard accessible via a narrow, covered carriage entrance, forms an immense grassy esplanade bordered by a number of outbuildings, whereas, further on, an understated iron gate, framed by stone pillars, provides glimpses, through the tall branches of the property’s beech trees, of an outbuilding on the left as well as the remnants of the 18th-century chateau’s exteriors, today a jumble of burned out beams and the only remaining vestiges of the chateau after it was ravaged by a fire.
Continuing on from here, the caretaker’s cottage, rather inconspicuous, is located along the northern side of the lane, while moats surround and encircle the property on all sides. As for the meandering Courtavaux River, it borders the grounds along their northern edge.
An initial square courtyard accessible via a narrow, covered carriage entrance, forms an immense grassy esplanade bordered by a number of outbuildings, whereas, further on, an understated iron gate, framed by stone pillars, provides glimpses, through the tall branches of the property’s beech trees, of an outbuilding on the left as well as the remnants of the 18th-century chateau’s exteriors, today a jumble of burned out beams and the only remaining vestiges of the chateau after it was ravaged by a fire.
Continuing on from here, the caretaker’s cottage, rather inconspicuous, is located along the northern side of the lane, while moats surround and encircle the property on all sides. As for the meandering Courtavaux River, it borders the grounds along their northern edge.
The Chateau and its History
Completely destroyed in 2023 by a fire, the chateau has been reduced to its vestiges over a floor area of approximately 330 m².
Formerly a fortified manor house in the 14th century, according to archival records, it was built with a central pavilion flanked by two large right-angle wings to the east and two corner towers to the west.
Later on, in the 18th century, the chateau was gradually transformed into a holiday home, while retaining its central formal courtyard and bolstering its outbuildings to the south, which formed a complete agricultural estate with a dovecote, stables, pigsties, chicken coops and tenant farmers’ quarters. At this time, the chateau was an example of architectural harmony thanks to its volumes, formed by a two-storey central pavilion topped with a gable end pediment and its impressive oculus and bordered on either side by two smaller wings. Three large arched doors, surrounded by stone, provided single-storey access to the entrance hall on the chateau’s garden level, while, on the first floor, cross-windows showcased its small wrought-iron balconies. As for its Burgundy small tile roofs, they once displayed the chronogram “1771” in an intense glazed carmine red, whereas the two smaller wings, topped with two dormer windows each, elegantly completed the whole by repeating the same architectural codes.
In the 19th century, the de Loisy family demolished the northern wing as well as the two corner towers, while, later on, an extension, known as “the aunt Marcelle wing,” named after a colourful family member, was rebuilt using typical rectangular Comblanchien limestone to the left of the chateau. Featuring a protruding bell tower clad in slate, a complete departure from the chateau’s overall perfectly symmetrical architectural style, this part of the chateau was not included in its regional historical monument classification.
The Outbuildings
The property’s many outbuildings – all in rather poor condition – with a total floor area of approximately 850 m², include a caretaker’s cottage, several sheds, workshops, stables, a dovecote listed as a regional historical monument, woodsheds, barns, a forge and small accommodations. Built according to an understated and local architectural design and topped with small flat tile roofs, they are homogeneous in style and grouped around an immense enclosed courtyard reserved for the estate’s domestic and agricultural activities.
The Grounds
Partially listed as a regional historical monument, the grounds surround the buildings and include several majestic beech trees near the chateau, a lane lined with hornbeams in the back, which leads to the grounds’ wooded area, as well as an immense clearing with tall grass to the west, providing unobstructed views and abundant sunlight for the chateau. Although the woods are in need of some clearing, they contain a variety of remarkable trees, while the Courtavaux River runs merrily alongside the northern edge of the grounds filling the property’s wide moats with water. Lastly, in some places, several narrow railway tracks are still visible, vestiges of a small train that went around the property in the early 20th century.
Our opinion
The contiguous property includes a full set of buildings, secluded within a bucolic landscape and, yet, only a stone’s throw away from access roads as well as the many tourist activities in the Beaune and Nuits-Saint-Georges region. As for the abundant Courtavaux River, recognised since Antiquity for its therapeutic benefits, it will supply plenty of water for vegetable gardens and ponds alike, while the noble dwelling still permeates the premises with its elegant vestiges and has retained its regional historical monument classification for its exteriors, roof, dovecote, chapel and a portion of its grounds. Although mostly in ruins, a complete overhaul of the property would allow for the bold and ambitious renaissance of this exceptional estate, under the watchful eye of a buyer who would carefully carry out the responsibility of restoring the chateau to its former lustre, while at the same time, providing it with a contemporary vision and respecting the Regional Department of Cultural Affairs’ obligation to rebuild the chateau’s exteriors and rooftops exactly as they appeared in the 18th century.
Exclusive sale
500 000 €
Negotiation fees included
470 000 € Fees excluded
Forfait de 30 000 € TTC at the expense of the purchaser
Reference 981830
| Land registry surface area | 7 ha 15 a 60 ca |
| Main building surface area | 800 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 1 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 850 m2 |
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
