It is, it seems, the most haunted place in Yonne and even one of the 10 most haunted places in France. The castle of Chastenay, also called the manor of Chastenay, is located in Arcy-sur-Cure a short half-hour drive from Auxerre. The 600-year-old building is full of symbols, of legends and stories. On the occasion of‘halloween, we visited it from the cellar to the attic in the company of its owner François de la Varende.
Twelve heads (angry)
When you arrive in front of the old building, the morning mist has already subsided. The place seems peaceful, perched in the icaunaise countryside, under the autumn sun. Still, one feels a little uncomfortable, as observed.
– Delphine-Marion Boulle
We look behind us, to the right, to the left. Our eyes fall on the old stones and suddenly our gaze meets that of statues. There are twelve in total on the facade, in the windows, under the windows but also and especially on the front door.. Three of them welcome the visitor. “It would be Jean Du Lys who was the owner of the castle, probably a Hebrew doctor, and Jean Flamel, the brother of Nicolas Flamel” explains the current owner of the premises François de la Varende. The property, built in 1349 is an alchemist’s castle.
– Delphine-Marion Boulle
On one of the floors, François de la Varende shows us around a very small room, it is the workshop of the alchemists. Moreover, in addition to these three figures at the entrance, several signs are visible on the facade. For example, there are athanors, i.e. ovens used by alchemists: “one is the dry method, the other is the wet method, and it is with this that they made their distillation” explains François de la Varende, who also points to a Baphomet, a sort of little devil, and a symbol of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
– Delphine-Marion Boulle
A mysterious White Lady
Maybe there are benevolent ghosts! (François de la Varende)
Besides the alchemical past, another legend is hidden behind this old castle. This is much less rational. Some say they saw a White Lady there, a ghost, a spirit. “You had a lot of wars between Protestants and Catholics and Auxerre was looted” tells us François de la Varende. He pursues “apparently the reliquary, you know this is this place where relics of saints are kept, it would have passed through here. It would have been buried here and the person who saw where it was buried, legend has it that ‘her tongue was cut off! She would be the White Lady “.
He has never seen her. Maybe the spirit leaves him alone. “It’s kinda weird because when we talk about ghosts, things like that, a lot of times we see murders or things like that but maybe there are benevolent ghosts!” confides the master of the place. After more than an hour spent in every nook and cranny of the building, no ghost, no Dame Blanche. Perhaps she is also kind to journalists, who knows!
What was in this castle turned us around for a whole evening! (Denis Daubelcour)
They haven’t seen her either, but they wonder if she hasn’t turned around them. About ten years ago, like many curious people, Denis Daubelcour and his friends also came to visit the place. They shot an episode of the show RIP (Recherches Investigations Paranormal) on site.
After two evenings in the mansion there were more questions than answers. Part of the gang did not see or hear anything strange. On the other hand, Denis, he is certain to have felt a presence. “I had the sensation of being touched in one of the two living rooms, as if my arm was brushed against.” There is also a piece of wood that fell, alone. He is sure of it “what was in this castle turned us around for a whole evening!”
François de la Varende sleeps a leaden sleep. He sees in these creaks and squeaks the manifestations of the canonical age of his house. His only chills? On full moon evenings, when he clearly distinguishes the shadow of the immense house bathed by the star: “that’s impressive, it’s a little scary the shadow of the full moon” he concludes.
– Delphine-Marion Boulle