Bresse et Castille is a Burgundian nugget between a work of art and a château, and a wonderful example of Art Brut in France. Located in the commune of Damerey in Saône-et-Loire, it fascinates every visitor with its unique architecture and history. We take you on a tour of this treasure trove, just 2 hours by train from Paris.
Château de Bresse et Castille: Burgundy’s incredible palace of art brut
Always on the lookout for architectural marvels in France, we came across a curiosity with a unique style and atypical history. Like Facteur Cheval’s ideal palace, Château de Bresse et Castille was the brainchild of a self-taught man. From a Bresse farmhouse dating from 1670, Roger Mercier, a former naval officer and world traveler, renovated and transformed the premises into a veritable monument to art brut from 1984 onwards.
Roger Mercier, a self-taught artist with no formal training, handcrafted some 50 concrete statues representing people, animals (parrots, eagles, lions, zebras, kangaroos, horses, etc.) and scenes from life. He also erected an impressive 22-metre-high tower, without cranes or scaffolding. Armed with a bucket, wheelbarrow and shovel, he built this strange edifice himself, bringing it to life with beautiful colors. Giving free rein to his imagination, he drew inspiration from his many travels to build this unusual structure.
The whole thing is part of the art brut movement: a work born of the imagination and solitary labor of an extraordinary artist, unconcerned with architectural or artistic conventions. The result is even more surprising and pleasing to the eye.
Today, while it’s not possible to visit the interior of the château, it is possible to admire this titanic work from the outside.
Château de Bresse et Castille – 33 route de Dole, 71620 Damerey