The Château de La Clayette is a 14th- and 19th-century castle in the French town of
La Clayette
La Clayette () is a commune in the east-central French department of Saône-et-Loire.
Geography
La Clayette is situated in the southernmost part of Burgundy, north of the historical province of Beaujolais. It belongs to an area designated since ...
, situated in south-western
Burgundy
Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The c ...
, in the north of the historical province of
Beaujolais
Beaujolais ( , ) is a French ''Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (AOC) wine generally made of the Gamay grape, which has a thin skin and is low in tannins. Like most AOC wines they are not labeled varietally. Whites from the region, which mak ...
. It is a listed
historical monument
A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, his ...
.
Description
Originally, the castle was built as a fortress because of its strategic defensive location, surrounded by a water-filled
moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...
.
It is private property and not open to the public.
History
*1307: Earliest mention as a
fortified house
A fortified house or fortified mansion is a type of building which developed in Europe during the Middle Ages, generally with significant fortifications added.
United States
In the United States, historically a fortified house was often calle ...
.
*1380: During the
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French Crown, ...
, Philibert de Lespinasse turned the fortified house into a
castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...
.
*1420: The castle belonged to Louis de Chantemerle.
*1524:
Francis I of France
Francis I (french: François Ier; frm, Francoys; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once ...
spent a night in the castle on his way to
Lyon
Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...
.
*1632: The castle belonged to Paul of the
House of Damas
The House of Damas is one of France's oldest noble families, recorded since the 9th century and including lords of Vergy, counts of Vermandois and barons of Semur.
Notable members
* Sybille of Bâgé, daughter of Guy I Damas de Baugé, Baron o ...
, one of France's oldest noble families.
*1703: By inheritance, the castle went to the Dyo family after the death of Jean-Léonard de Damas.
*1722: Bernard de Noblet bought the castle, whose descendants are still owners.
It was expanded to its current size in the 19th century.
Gallery
File:La Clayette - 71 - château 3.JPG
File:La Clayette - 71 - château 2.JPG
File:La Clayette - 71 - château 4.JPG
File: Château de La Clayette (Saône-et-Loire).JPG
File:Château de la Clayette1.JPG
File:La Clayette 01.jpg
See also
*
List of castles in France
This is a list of castles in France, arranged by Region and Department.
;Notes:
# The French word ''château'' has a wider meaning than the English ''castle'': it includes architectural entities that are properly called palaces, mansions or vine ...
References
Châteaux in Saône-et-Loire
Castles in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
House of Damas
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Saône-et-Loire
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