Imagine standing on a rock. It dominates the Saône. Below us lies the Châateau de Cuire. This isn’t just a building. It’s a story etched in stone. The Château de Cuire is an old fortified house. It dates back to the early 14th century.
Jean II de la Palud was the abbot of Ainay. He ordered the construction of a stronghold between 1313 and 1324. It was known as Domus de Cuereis near Lyon. The Château de Cuire was once part of Franc Lyonnais. Now, it is integrated into the Cuire-le-Bas district.
Let’s step back in time. Picture the Abbey of Ainay owning this land. In the 14th century, Abbot Jean II de la Palud decided to build a fortified castle here. Imagine a provost. He was in charge of justice and defending the castle.
In 1571, Pierre Faure de Chaffaut bought the fief. He paid 4,000 livres to the Abbey of Ainay. There was one condition. He could not resell it to a Protestant. After his death, the estate was auctioned off. This was to settle unpaid debts.
The Lange family then acquired the estate in 1578. Nicolas II de Lange bought it for 1,566 gold crowns. He expanded and embellished the Châateau de Cuire.
Around 1671, the castle had a triple enclosure. The second enclosure had three round towers. One tower contained prisons. Besides the enclosure, there was a garden and orchard.
The Sève family later acquired the fief. Guillaume de Sève bought it for 26,000 livres.
In 1736, Lyon’s consulate bought the seigneury. They had to sell it a few years later. This was to pay off commercial debts.
Simon Claude Boulard de Gatellier became the last lord of Cuire in 1766. During the Revolution, he was jailed twice. He was fined 8,000 livres for helping rebels. He died a few months later in Paris.
By the mid-19th century, the towers still stood. But they were shorter. Inside the Châateau de Cuire, there was a spiral staircase. Also, there were small rooms and a tiny oratory.
Around 1830, the Château de Cuire was altered. Then, in 1825, Abbé Augustin Mayol de Lupé acquired the property. He established a young women’s society there. He spent 400,000 francs on restoration. This included raising the main building.
Until 1956, it served as a boarding house for boatmen’s children. Today, the Châateau de Cuire has been converted into private apartments.
The Château de Cuire comprises several buildings. The main building is rectangular. Its facades have five bays over four levels. There is an upper level with a balustrade. From the inner courtyard, a straight staircase leads to the raised ground floor. To the north and west, buildings form an arc around the main building. To the southwest, another building delimits the west side of the courtyard. To the southeast, a building forms a right angle with the main building.
Remember the chapel of Saint Romain. It served as the parish church. But a fire destroyed it in 1715. It was rebuilt but abandoned during the Revolution.
The last remaining tower was demolished. This was to widen the Montée des Forts.
So as you stand here today, imagine the lives. Consider the stories within the walls of the Châateau de Cuire. It has witnessed centuries of change. It stands as a testament to time. It’s a unique place. Its stones whisper tales of abbots, lords, and revolutionaries.