Château de la Tour du Bost, tour à Charmoy (Saône-et-Loire)
The Château de la Tour du Bost is a stone tower built in the 11th and 12th centuries on a small hilltop in Charmoy with thick walls made of dark stone. Inside, stairs carved into the walls lead upward to vaulted rooms, a cellar, and a cistern for storing rainwater, with large fireplaces showing medieval and Renaissance styles.
The original three-story structure was expanded with two additional floors in the 13th century to increase its strength and presence. After a fire damaged it in 1920, it was reclassified as a protected monument in 1995, with restoration work continuing to preserve the building.
The tower takes its name from the Du Bois family who owned it in the 12th century. Visitors can see carved coats of arms from different noble families on the stone walls, each one marking periods when different families controlled the property and left their mark on the region.
The tower sits on private land and can only be visited at specific times or by prior arrangement. Visitors should plan ahead and check opening times, as regular public access is limited and group tours may be required.
The staircase inside is carved directly into the stone walls and rises at a steep angle, showing how medieval craftsmen worked without modern tools. This level of craftsmanship is rarely found in restored European towers and speaks to the builders' skill.
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