Top 6 Castles around Champagny-Sous-Uxelles

The region around Champagny-Sous-Uxelles offers a diverse range of castles, from well-preserved medieval strongholds to opulent 17th-century estates. You can explore sites like Sercy Castle, known for its medieval architecture, and Cormatin Castle, famous for its Louis XIII interiors and extensive gardens.

Visiting a castle like Cormatin Castle, with its interiors and 12-hectare gardens, can easily take 2-3 hours. For sites like Brancion Castle, which includes a medieval village and panoramic views, you might spend a similar amount of time. Allow half a day if you plan to visit one castle thoroughly, or a full day if you wish to combine two nearby sites.

Yes, Cormatin Castle is particularly renowned for its magnificent 12-hectare grounds. These include wide moats, a large boxwood labyrinth, flowerbeds, an old-style vegetable garden, an outdoor theater, ponds, and fountains. It's considered a prime example of 17th-century Renaissance-style gardens.

Brancion Castle, perched on a rocky outcrop, offers exceptional 360° panoramic views from its 20-meter high keep. This vantage point allows you to take in the surrounding countryside and the historic medieval village.

Sercy Castle, dating back to the 12th century, is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the region. It features a unique high circular tower with a wooden hoarding and a Romanesque chapel with preserved frescoes. Brancion Castle also offers a significant medieval experience with its fortified gateway and keep.

Cormatin Castle is an excellent choice for this. Its early 17th-century interiors are exceptionally well-preserved, featuring richly painted, carved, and gilded woodwork, period furniture, and tapestries. It offers a complete and authentic testimony to the decorative art of the time of Marie de Médicis.

Yes, both Cormatin Castle and Brancion Castle are considered family-friendly. Cormatin's large boxwood labyrinth and green theater in its gardens are popular with children, while Brancion's medieval village and panoramic views from the keep offer an engaging historical experience for all ages.

The region offers various cycling opportunities. You can find road cycling routes, gravel biking trails, and general cycling tours. For example, there's a 'Chapaize Church – Sercy Castle loop' for road cycling, or a 'Cormatin Castle – La Grange Cergy Wine & Cheese loop' for gravel biking. You can explore more options in the Cycling around Champagny-Sous-Uxelles guide.

Visitors frequently praise the historical depth and architectural beauty of the castles. The well-preserved interiors of Cormatin Castle and its stunning gardens are often highlighted. The immersive medieval experience at Brancion Castle, especially the panoramic views from its keep, also receives high acclaim. The serene setting of Sercy Castle is also a favorite.

While the commune of Champagny-Sous-Uxelles itself features a historic building operating as a bed and breakfast called 'Le Château', the more prominent and publicly accessible castles for historical exploration are found in the surrounding Southern Burgundy region, such as Cormatin, Sercy, and Brancion.

Spring and autumn generally offer pleasant weather for exploring both the castle interiors and their gardens. The gardens of Cormatin Castle are particularly vibrant in spring and summer. Visiting outside of peak summer months can also mean fewer crowds.

While La Serrée Castle in Curtil-sous-Burnand is less frequently mentioned than the major sites, it dates from the 15th century and features buildings surrounding a rectangular courtyard, including a porch tower and a dovecote tower. Its historical architecture offers a glimpse into the region's past, though public accessibility may vary.