Dating back to the 15th century, this exquisitely captivating historic abandoned mansion in central France’s Burgundy region was built back in the 1400’s by a French nobleman and shockingly was left abandoned by its last owners in 2017.
The château purposefully sits discreetly hidden amidst a small forest of towering aging old oak trees just outside of a small village. It’s neo-romanesque exterior design features two district prominent round towers with a connecting arched gallery, believed to be the only remnants left of the original 15th century structure, still proudly showcasing its rich medieval heritage today, over 600 years later.
During the French Revolution of the late 18th century, ownership of the château passed to the de Montrichard family, one of France’s oldest aristocratic lineages. Thankfully, the château survived this tumultuous period in French history, and subsequently it was passed down through the family in the years to come. In 1868, it ended up in the hands of Count Armand de Montrichard and he immediately began to rebuild the stately chateau.
He expanded hallways and other rooms, utilized imported tapestries and hand carved woodwork, had rare tile and stained glass installed, and made other significant interior renovations, all enhancing the chateau’s grandiose scale and overall opulence.
The Count had achieved his goal and the architectural brilliance of the chateau was now a blend of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque styles, showcasing the evolution of all the architectural trends over the centuries. The chateau features a symmetrical layout, grand facades, ornate turrets, and meticulously landscaped gardens, all of which contributed to its ever enchanting allure.
The château’s rich history continued through the centuries and stayed within the de Montrichard family for many years until it eventually changed hands in 2003 when it was purchased by a local architect. The architect tried his very best to protect the aging structure and maintain its massive surrounding property. However, the maintenance became increasingly challenging and proved to be too much, leading to its eventual sale to a couple of Indonesian real estate investors in 2017.
The pair of investors initially planned to undertake another restoration of the deteriorating structure and turn the place into a luxurious hotel and fancy restaurant, but instead left the country and never returned, leaving the once gorgeous castle to fend for itself, which over time, proved to be an impossible task.
In 2020, the property grabbed the eye of a local conservation group, who organized preservation efforts to help save the chateau. Unfortunately, their efforts have yielded little results, especially as it has become somewhat of a popular icon for abandoned French chateaus, attracting visitors and trespassers from all corners of the world.
Despite some people making claims that the historic chateau was once owned by victims of the titanic, there has been no proof to corroborate such a story. As of 2024, the once extravagant chateau continues to sit abandoned, hoping to be saved from additional destruction, further damage, and most importantly, the fate of impending doom.