It’s the weekend to tour the most beautiful monuments of Franche-Comté with the European Heritage Days. Hundreds of places are to be seen or perhaps rediscovered, such as the fortified castle of Oricourt which has overlooked the plain of Lure since the 12th century.
A visit that will offer you a dive into medieval times. The place has seen illustrious owners such as Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of Burgundy and founder of the famous Hospices de Beaune. Listed as a historical monument, this castle is one of the best preserved in the region. A preservation that it owes in particular to its passionate caretaker, Jean-Pierre Cornevaux, who has been restoring it since 1969 with the help of his wife Colette. “I was almost born there. My parents were farmers and part owner of the place. Very early on, I had only one obsession, it was to save this place. Moreover, at 15, I was already organizing the first workcamps for young people on the site. I am now a tour guide to welcome visitors as best as possible. I made architectural drawings. The Château has always been at the center of his precautions. Showing the places, it’s really happiness”, assures the owner.
– Virginia Vandeville
Jean-Pierre Cornevaux is thus organizing three guided tours during the day on Saturday and Sunday. “I don’t want an audio guide. There is also a free visit, but I answer all questions if there are any”, he says. The Château d’Olicourt is therefore open all weekend from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a single price of 4 euros. It’s free for children under 15.
A visit that will allow you to discover the dovecote, one of the largest in the region, but also the seigniorial oven or the deep well more than 22 meters deep around which catapult balls are arranged, one of which is more than 150 kg and “considered the largest found in France”. And then for those who have already come a few years ago, the chapel is open to the public. The restoration work was completed in 2020. In particular, you can discover a wooden vault.