Piffonds Castle

Piffonds Castle, locally known as Château de Piffonds, is located in the village of the same name in the Yonne department in France.

The first mention of a castle in Piffonds dates back to 1264, when it was owned by the lords of Courtenay. During the Hundred Years' War, in 1367, the French Estates General assembly expressed concern about the number of fortifications where enemies could establish themselves. In response, envoys were dispatched to assess the situation. The castle's owner at that time then ordered the destruction of its towers to prevent enemy armies from taking refuge there.

At the end of the 15th century, the earlier castle was replaced by the present Piffonds Castle, with only its foundations remaining. The new castle was reconstructed on the same trapezoidal plan as its predecessor. The buildings were arranged at right angles and framed by corner towers to the north and east. Curtain walls connected them to the large corner tower on the west side, which was later transformed into a dovecote. The date 1472 appears on a beam of the dovecote, likely a remnant of the former south wing, which was subsequently remodeled.

Later, the castle housed a tile factory and also a chapel called the Chapel of Our Lady within its walls. This latter feature was quite rare at the time, as most castle chapels were located outside the walls, typically attached to their exterior. 

Until 1819, the castle gardens extended into a large park of nearly 340 hectares, an area predominantly occupied by woods, which were sold in 1844. The south tower was demolished by the new owner in the same year.

Piffonds Castle can be visited freely, although only externally. The remaining buildings of the castle now serve several functions; the northeast corner and tower are used as the town hall, while other parts appear to be divided into private residences. A nice castle in a rural village.

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