16 Iconic Buildings to Explore in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Founded in 1098 by Robert de Molesmes, the Abbey of Cîteaux is located in the Saône plain, in the heart of Burgundy. It is notable for being the original house of the Cistercian order. Today, it belongs to the Trappists. The abbey has about 35 members. The monks produce a cheese branded under the abbey's name, as well as caramels and honey-based candies.

Espace Bernadette Soubirous Nevers is a former convent and the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers in Nevers, France, and is where the body of Saint Bernadette reposes. In 1970, it was converted into a sanctuary run by volunteers and a few sisters who administer to pilgrims and manage the building. There is also a museum that highlights the various steps in Bernadette’s life: the cachot, the grotto, Hospice of Lourdes and her time in Nevers. Some photographs and artifacts depict her

The castle of Brancion is located in the town of Martailly-lès-Brancion, Saone-et-Loire, 33 km south of Chalon-sur-Saone. this castle was built from the twelfth century on a hill overlooking a pass that borrows the road from Cluny and heading towards the course of the Saone. It was protected as historical monuments, the castle has recovered part of its fortifications, its imposing square dungeon high of three floors, and even its gardens.

The Castle of Saint-Fargeau is a monument in the municipality of Saint-Fargeau. It is an attraction for holidaymakers staying in the region.The château was originally a hunting residence in 10th century. The château was designated as a monument historique in 1945 and has been open to the public since.

Château d'Ancy-le-Franc is a Renaissance-style château of the 16th century located in the town of Ancy-le-Franc in the department of Yonne, in France. The site was originally occupied by a 12th-century fort, which survived until the end of the sixteenth century. The château is currently owned by a private company, Société Paris Investir SAS, which undertook its restoration, and recognition as a national historical monument.

Built-in the twelfth century, halfway up a wooded hill. The original castle was built by Jean de Saillenay in 1180, on the site of a Roman outpost guarding the road between Autun and the administrative center of Gallia Lugdunensis, now Sens. Today it is private property, and classified as a listed Historic building.

A simple fortified house built in the twelfth century by Renaudin lord of Bussy in a wooded valley near the archaeological site of Alesia. Historical Monument in 1862, it is owned by the state since 1929 and the building is managed by the National Monuments Center. Further restoration of the building has been carried out since the 1970s.

Château de Cormatin is surrounded by moats filled with water and a magnificent 12-hectare park featuring flowerbeds, a traditional kitchen garden, a box tree maze, ornamental lakes, and 200-year-old lime trees. The castle was classified as a historical monument in 1862 and 1903 and various parts of the park were inscribed in 2019.

Château de La Rochepot is a 12th-century feudal castle of neo-Gothic-Burgundian style, rebuilt in the 15th century. In the 19th century, it was completely restored and covered with glazed burgundy tiles. It is located in the commune of La Rochepot in the Côte-d'Or department, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. The castle was built in 1180 on the ruins of a castle burnt down in the 11th century. It belonged to seigneur de Montagu Alexander of Burgundy. Nowadays, these ruins are located in the nea

Built-in 1340 for the Duke of Eudes, the château was dismantled in 1478 following the invasion of Burgundy by Louis XI in his conflict with Marie of Burgundy. Restored and decorated in the early 17th century by the Bouhier family, in 1689 the château became the property of the Migieu family. One of the main attractions in this area and also a notable architecture.

Walk into the beautiful Château de Sully where each room takes you on a voyage of discovery. This place is the perfect blend of tradition and bold, exception, and elegance. The château is approached by an axial stone bridge across its moat. The façades express the traditionally defensive character of the rez-de-chaussée, the ground floor, and the richer, more open aspect of the piano nobile, articulated by pilasters. It was now one of the majestic historical places and it attracts a lot of touri

One of Vauban’s masterpieces registered as a UNESCO world heritage site, remarkable example of the 17th century military architecture covering nearly 12 hectares, the Citadel of Besançon is considered one of the most beautiful fortress in France. As it surely rose to be the first unique, cultural and touristic site in the central-eastern part of France, the Citadel houses no less than three museums certified “Musées de France” nowadays: the Museum of Resistance and Deportation, the Museum of Fra

Guédelon Castle is a castle currently under construction near Treigny, France. The castle is the focus of an experimental archaeology project aimed at recreating a 13th-century castle and its environment using the period technique, dress, and material. Construction started in 1997 under Michel Guyot, owner of Château de Saint-Fargeau, a castle in Saint-Fargeau 13 kilometers away. The site was chosen according to the availability of construction materials.

The palace of Burgundian Dukes is situated in the center of the city. Built to display the power and might of the dukes, it is now the city hall with the mayor's office and other administrative offices. The tall tower of Philippe le Bon offers an impressive panoramic view of the city. The neoclassical edifice was built over several centuries, but the oldest parts of the building, including the kitchens and the Guard Room, dating back to the 15th century.

The Palais Ducal, considered as one of the leading Loire châteaux, was the residence of the counts and then the dukes of Nevers. Built-in the late 15th century, it now houses the town's exhibition and reception areas, the council chambers, and an amazing aquarium containing Loire fish. it is classified as a French monument historique in the list of historic monuments of 1840.

Place de la Liberation, literally the “place of the liberation” in English, sits at the historic center of Dijon France. It is designed in a semicircle and anchored on one side by the palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. The square’s current look is the result of a facelift it received in 2005-2006. Three fountains were installed and its surface was covered with the local Comblanchien limestone, known for its beautiful beige color.