From Middle Ages to nowadays

The oldest parts of the castle of Pierreclos dates from the 12th century. The first lord of Pierreclos, mentioned in texts from 1140, is called Hugues II of Berzé. In this period, a three levels tower where lived the lord protects the parochial church, in a romanesque style, built on this hill. These constructions occupy the site of a ancient pagan necropolis, area closed by a stony low wall or “ petra clausa” which gave the name “Pierrelau” and then “Pierreclos”.

At the beginning of the 15th century, Louis de Savoie, who acquired the domain, donates it to Ymbaud de Bletterens who has to defend it against the attacks of Armagnacs, in war against the Burgundians, during the Hundred Years’ War. Taken in 1422, the castle and its lands are finally given back to Ymbaud de Bletterens. Some years later, the domain passes by wedding in the family De Rougemont. Six generations of this family succeed one another and assure the perpetuity of the castle in spite of numerous disturbances. Attacked and plundered by troops of bandits called “Ecorcheurs” (grazers), it is afterwards invaded and partially burned in 1471 by the troops of King Louis XI, battling against Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold, then besieged and again plundered by the Protestants in 1562 during the French Wars of Religion. These two troubled centuries will mark largely the castle: destruction of the nave of the church burned by the Protestants, construction of a main building and a three levels tower in the 15th century, then a perpendicular building in the 16th century and successive restorations of the various buildings damaged during the conflicts.

In 1665, the domain is sold by the Rougemont family to the Michon family, from Lyon. Until the French Revolution, this family will not stop embellishing the castle: big entrance gate is surrounded with two detached houses covered with hull roof and surmounted by the coat of arms of Michon de Pierreclos, entrance hall in full round arch to reach the courtyard of the castle, gardens with flowerbeds on the terrace, halls and rooms fitted out and decorated with panelling…

The Revolution brings afterwards other troubles. In 1789, inhabitants revolted against the lord take of assault the castle and make numerous damages in the various mains of buildings and the church. The count Jean Baptist Michon de Pierreclos and his family are imprisoned in Mâcon in 1793. In the first years of the 19th century, his younger son, Guillaume, remains owner of the castle. Married with Anne Josephine Dézoteux Cormatin, the "beautiful Nina", he has a single son, Léon, in fact an illegitimate son of Alphonse de Lamartine, friend of Guillaume, felt in love with Nina during his numerous comings in the castle. Léon, the last heir of the family Michon de Pierreclos dies from the tuberculosis in 1841 but the lands of Pierreclos are sold from 1817. The castle is acquired in 1826 by the family Chaland-Thillier who will keep it until 1909 and will restore largely buildings and church. In the 20th century, several families succeed one another in the castle: the Darnat family until the Second World War, Mr Fouilloux until 1985, and then Mr Masson. Since 1989, the castle belongs to the Pidault family which engaged a set of works to propose the access to the public.