History of the Castle

The Château de Cormatin was built by Antoine du Blé d'Huxelles, governor of Chalon sur Saône. It was erected on the foundations of a medieval castle dating back to the 13th Century and was the Du Blé family's oldest property.

The Castle's Architecture

Château de Cormatin is a typical example of its time, a perfect sample in the purest Renaissance style of the Loire Valley Châteaus. The roofs with tiles imported from the Angers region are quite different from the usual clay-tiled roofs of the region. 

Originally, the castle was composed of three residential wings. Only the Northern wing has stayed in its original state until today. The central wing's roof crumbled down and the Southern collapsed in 1815 after having been transformed into a textile factory. The two remaining monumental doors (there were three doors in the original castle) were created by Catherine de Médicis's royal architect.

Very interesting here is the stone staircase of 23 meters high. This is the oldest staircase of this kind in France.  

The Castle's interior decoration

During the 17th century, it was common use for apartments of the aristocratic to be compose dof for rooms: the anteroom, the bedroom, the cabinet and the dressing room. The apartments of Château de Cormatin are still exactly like in the beginning of the 17th century, richly decorated. The apartments of Château de Cormatin are a magnificent example of the Louis XIII style.

The nicest rooms of Château de Cormatin are without a doubt the Marquis's cabinet (Ste Cécile's cabinet) and the anteroom and bed room of the Marchioness. Ste Cécile's cabinet is a remarkably rich decorated room. Never changed since 1625, in a virtually original state, gold and lapis-lazuli are omnipresent. The decorations in this philosophical cabinet, meant for reading and meditation, are filled with symbols like Ste Cécile's portrait (symbolising music). 

The Castle Gardens

Château de Cormatin is surrounded by a 12 ha parc, very nicely organized with a labyrinth leading to a birdcage and a traditionnal kitchen garden. All decorated with fountains.
Along the gardens of Château de Cormatin, you will find the famous "Voie Verte" (former railroad transformed into cycling path), leading from Givry to Cluny in Southern Burgundy. 
During Summer you can enjoy a cup of tea in the salon de thé in the tower of the kitchen garden.

Theater at the Castle

At certain Summer days, the open air theater of Château de Cormatin becomes the backdrop for theater plays during the "Rendez-vous de Cormatin". The Château's open air theater is sometimes opened during evenings offering a wonderful view over the gardens and the château with torch lights.  

Learn more about 
Château de Cormatin:
www.chateau
decormatin.com