Oricourt: medieval castle and village fountains

Two courtyards behind double ring walls

One ring wall encloses the lower service courtyard, while the other encloses the upper residential courtyard. This divides the castle into two areas, whose different functions are clear from their names. The upper courtyard contains buildings from the 12th and 15th centuries, as well as a well, a cistern, a bakery, cellars and a large dining hall. The many buildings and facilities give the upper courtyard its own distinct layout and add several clearly differentiated spaces to the impression of a single, enclosed fortress. Château d’Oricourt has been classified as a Monument historique since 4 May 1984.

Towers, rampart walk and ditches

The main tower is 25 metres high, overlooks the courtyards and ditches, and also controls access to the castle. At the foot of the rear tower, a stairway with mouse-run steps built against the wall is the only access to the rampart walk. Another tower between the two taller towers has a hexagonal ground plan. On the ditch side, its base is square, and its narrow interior contains three loopholes, one of them cross-shaped. These varied forms make the site’s defensive architecture especially easy to appreciate in detail.

The natural setting is also part of the defensive structure: Château d’Oricourt overlooks a valley, and the terrain plays a significant role in its defence. The southern ditch cuts deep into the plateau; in places, it reaches ten metres deep and almost twenty metres wide. Here, the construction of the site and the effect of the natural terrain can be seen side by side.

The castle chapel and its restoration

The castle chapel is in the upper courtyard, adjoining the keep, where visitors can view it. During its restoration, original floor tiles and the altar base were uncovered. The work lasted one year. The chapel was probably established in the 15th century by Nicolas Rolin, founder of the Hospices de Beaune and chancellor to the Duke of Burgundy. This probable attribution links the chapel’s history to a figure associated with both Beaune and the Burgundian court.

More details of the castle complex

Many clay nests and boulins remain in the dovecote; its roof was restored in 1984. A scaled-down trebuchet stands beside the ditches. It was provided by Compagnie La Lune d’Ambre and made by Renaud Beffeyte of Armédiéval. These features complement the main structures with smaller, clearly situated details—from the dovecote inside the complex to the device beside the ditches.

Village fountains and regional discoveries

The castle is not the only cultural attraction in the village: Oricourt has three monumental fountains dating from the 19th century. These should not be confused with the fountains of Oppenans, which are listed among the discoveries along the Circuit Art, Nature et Patrimoine in the wider region. The circuit starts in Oricourt; other destinations mentioned include the forest and priory of Marast, as well as the village of Aillevans. Check the current route before planning your trip.

Oricourt as a place to search for a holiday rental

If you want to make the fortress and local history the focus of your stay, you can consider Oricourt as a place to search for a holiday rental. If you also want to include the circuit, you can take its starting point in Oricourt into account as a separate aspect of your trip planning. Choose your destination according to your interests: castle details and village fountains, or discoveries listed in the wider area.

Discover more destinations: Theuley, Chariez, Fondremand, Coisevaux, La Roche-Morey, Anjeux, Dampierre-Sur-Salon, Aisey-Et-Richecourt.

For the regional travel overview: Haute-Saône.