Discover the secrets of this abandoned aristocratic estate
This breathtakingly beautiful “secret” château in the Burgundy area of France dates back to the 15th century. After its owners abandoned it in 2017, urbex adventurers came to love it. Though adventurous travelers can no longer access the property, American Decay author and acclaimed photographer Bryan Sansivero was able to visit it this past summer and take pictures of it in all its faded beauty. Explore the château by clicking or scrolling through to see why this alluring piece of history was allowed to decay and what is being done to preserve it.
Secret château
Fittingly hidden in an oak tree grove near the village of Saint-Parize-le-Châtel in the Nièvre department of Burgundy, the Château de la Chasseigne is affectionately referred to as the “secret château” by the urbex community, who managed to keep its whereabouts largely a secret for a while. When you get closer to the fairytale château, you could observe that the two large round towers on the left and the arched gallery connecting them look older than the rest of the building. All that’s left of the original château were built in the fifteenth century by the aristocrat Robert de la Chasseigne, the château’s namesake.
Aristocratic owners
One of the longest living blue-blooded families in France, the de Montrichards, was said to have inherited the property in 1789 following the marriage of a Robert de la Chasseigne descendant to Count Gabriel-Étienne de Montrichard, who was supposedly a prominent general in King Louis XVI’s army. As the French Revolution was just getting underway, the aristo could have lost both the medieval castle and his head.
19th-century expansion
Fortunately, the count managed to avoid the guillotine and save his land; nonetheless, he passed away in 1799 at the young age of 44. The château belonged to his first child, Louis-Henri, and subsequently to his oldest son, Armand. Count Armand de Montrichard is reported to have used the money from the sale of two other family properties in 1868 to extensively expand the Château de la Chasseigne in the opulent neo-Renaissance style. Let’s go inside now.
Grand salon
Entering the grand salon, located directly to the right of the entry hall, you are immediately struck by the elaborate pillars and neo-classical wall paneling that give the space an air of opulence. The majority of the furniture in the house was reportedly purchased somewhat recently at a low cost from the Emmaüs brand of charity stores, according to the French website Souterrain-Lyon.
Child’s bedroom
The rooms simply don’t stop arriving. This one was also on the upper floor, and based on the small sleigh bed in the corner, it might have been a child’s bedroom. The floor is covered in debris, and the wallpaper is peeling off. The floorboards also need a thorough sanding and polishing, even though they appear to be in good condition.
Neglected loft room
The accommodations appear to deteriorate more as you go higher up the structure, which may point to roof concerns that should be fixed. Tucked away in the eaves, this loft apartment has a disrepair of worn-out floors, peeling wallpaper, and what looks to be a headboard that was abandoned.
A fairytale rescue?
Even though this castle seems like it belongs in a Brothers Grimm story, it has to be saved from a fairytale. Hopefully, the team trying to save the château will be able to accomplish that and keep it intact for future generations. Its captivating history spanning nearly six centuries and its captivating architecture make the property much too valuable to be allowed to deteriorate.
