What remains of the Château de Passy-les-Tours?

One corner tower with thick walls, remains of the main dwelling and traces of the moats survive, the rest having been destroyed or dismantled over the centuries.

Who built the Château de Passy-les-Tours?

It was built at the end of the 14th century by Jean de Chevenon, a counsellor to King Charles VI.

Why is the château in ruins?

It was heavily damaged during the Wars of Religion, and its stones were later taken by successive owners for other buildings.

Is the Château de Passy-les-Tours protected?

Yes, its remains have been listed as a historic monument since a 2018 decree, after an initial listing in 1927.

Château de Passy-les-Tours

Varennes-lès-Narcy

Access

Not open to visitors

Not open to visitors. You can walk around the foot of the castle and view it from outside.

Source: Office de tourisme des Bertranges, courriel du 23 septembre 2026

Where: Varennes-lès-Narcy

To make a day of it

Open within 20 km

Sleep nearby

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Château de Passy-les-Tours stands in Varennes-lès-Narcy (Nièvre), in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France. The building is listed as a historic monument. The building is not open to visitors.

The village of Varennes-lès-Narcy in the Nièvre department preserves the ruined remains of the Château de Passy-les-Tours, raised for Jean de Chevenon, a trusted counsellor of Charles VI, near the close of the 1300s. Inspired by the design of the Château de Vincennes, the stronghold once featured four round towers at its corners along with a keep rising 25 metres that lent the village its name. The Wars of Religion left the fortress badly damaged, so that today only a single corner tower with its thick walls and fragments of the main dwelling still stand.

Written from Château de Passy-les-Tours

What to know

The site consists of ruins and remains rather than an intact château.
The grounds include moats and buried structures, best explored on foot.
The monument has been listed as a historic monument since 2018.
No verified information is available regarding opening hours or admission fees.

Practical information

Visit duration: Not verified
Wheelchair access: Not verified
Dogs: Not verified
Parking: Not verified

On site

Gift shop

Where this château is

Varennes-lès-Narcy · Nièvre · Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Map of the area around Château de Passy-les-Tours

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

2 Rte Jean de Chevenon, 58400 Varennes-lès-Narcy

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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4.4 / 5from 205 Google reviews

Heritage status: Listed historic monument (classé); Mérimée record PA00113040

In pictures

Frequently asked

What remains of the Château de Passy-les-Tours?: One corner tower with thick walls, remains of the main dwelling and traces of the moats survive, the rest having been destroyed or dismantled over the centuries.
Who built the Château de Passy-les-Tours?: It was built at the end of the 14th century by Jean de Chevenon, a counsellor to King Charles VI.
Why is the château in ruins?: It was heavily damaged during the Wars of Religion, and its stones were later taken by successive owners for other buildings.
Is the Château de Passy-les-Tours protected?: Yes, its remains have been listed as a historic monument since a 2018 decree, after an initial listing in 1927.