Éguilly Castle

Éguilly Castle, locally known as Château d'Éguilly, lies east of the village of the same name in the Côte-d'Or department in France.

The first fortification at this site was a Gallo-Roman watchtower. This was situated just east of the current castle, the outline of its moat and motte can still be seen.

Éguilly Castle was built in the mid-12th century by the Knights Templar and guarded a trade route through the valley. In the 13th century it was held for the Templars by the Éguilly family, who were a branch of an important Burgundian family; the Saffres. After the dissolution of the Templars in 1314, their possessions were turned over to the Knights Hospitaller. The Éguilly's held the castle until the late 15th.

In 1692 Éguilly Castle was rebuilt by the De Choiseul de Chavigny family who had several Hospitaller knights in their family.

In the 18th century it passed to the Mac Mahon family who held it until the mid-20th century. Then the castle was abandoned and slowly fell to ruin. During the 1960s a new national highway was laid out just some 50 m from the castle's gates; the A6, also known as the Autoroute du Soleil. The highway separated the castle from its village.

In 1983 the abandoned castle was bought by an art dealer, Roger Aubry, who started to restore it. In 2015 it was bought by Fabio Magnani and his wife, who continued the restoration started by Aubry.

At present Ëguilly Castle can not be visited as it is private property. It does seem to be used for cultural purposes sometimes. A very nice castle, too bad I could not visit it.

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