Château du Breuil, Medieval fortress in Gueugnon, France.
Château du Breuil is a castle near Gueugnon with a central residence, four corner towers, and dry moats accessed through a southern stone gateway. The structure sits on a hilltop and shows a compact fortified layout designed to control its surroundings.
The castle was built in the late 1400s for the Brisejonc family and served as a medieval fortress. A fire destroyed its main tower in 1616, leading to reconstruction that shaped its present form.
The architecture blends medieval defensive elements with Renaissance influences. Circular and square towers show musket ports and arrow slits that reveal how residents fortified their home.
The castle is located about 3 kilometers southwest of Gueugnon on a hilltop and can be viewed from outside. Since it remains a private residence of the Chargères family, interior visits are not permitted, but the exterior with its towers and walls is visible from the surrounding area.
During the 1930s, the castle was temporarily converted to grain storage, with windows blocked to protect the grain from light and spoilage. This unusual repurposing shows how rural fortifications found new uses during difficult economic times.
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