Chateau de Bourgogne Sully, Montceau-les-Mines, Génelard Trench and the Canal du Centre

Chateau de Bourgogne Sully XVI Century

Visiting Chateau Sully is always nice, but sometimes we get lucky and the visit is exceptional.  This was one of those times.  We arrived towards the end of the day and lucked out with a private tour.  Normally the tours are conducted only in French, but since it was just us our lovely tour guide did the best she could with her English and we had a great visit.  After the tour of the chateau we had another treat.  

Chateau Sully behind us.

Front door to the Chateau which opens into their amazing courtyard.

Chateau Sully has a beautiful Renaissance courtyard.

Another view of Chateau Sully from the back.

This is the servants entrance to the Chateau.  After all, we wouldn’t want the servants to be seen by the owners or their guests. This also shows a small portion of the grounds.

The Chateau de Sully is only 30 minutes west of Beaune which makes it easy to visit. 

It is difficult for families today to be able to maintain these chateau and their grounds.  They require a tremendous amount of money,  The 9th Marquis de Mac Mahon and 4th Duc de Magenta acquired the Abbaye de Morgeot in nearby Chassagne-Montrachet.  The Marquis made it his life work acquiring and promoting his premier cru vineyards in Cassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet.  These vineyards are what make it possible for the family to maintain their chateau today.  The Duke died in 2002.  His widow has continued to run the home, estate and winery.  We’re told that after hours she is the one who runs the lawn mower and works hard keeping the grounds neat and orderly,  The sister of the Dutchess took us into the cellar for our wine tasting.  She kept us entertained with stories of what life is like even today living in the Chateau.  The widow and her children continue to live year round on the property,  If you can imagine, only two rooms have heat in the living quarters. Meanwhile I can confirm that they produce delicious wines.
 

We enjoyed our private wine tasting with the sister of the Dutchess Mac Mahon of Sully

We spent a few days in Monceau-les-Mines.  While there haven’t been many changes since our last visit this shop did surprise me.  

There’s a new shop in town.

This was the least pleasant mooring we’ve had in a long time.  We were side tied to this beat up old barge and had to climb over it in order to get to shore.

We found a series of lakes on one of our walks while in Montceau-les-Mines

We go under beautiful bridges leaving Montceau-les-Mines

Here Rabelo is cruising under the lifting bridges.

An attractive building along the canal.  It’s a shame the boulangerie wasn’t open.

Through the village of Génelard the Canal du Centre follows a long deep trench covered in stone.  It was originally used to transport materials and goods such as coal, tile, wood, iron…professions that have disappeared. 

Cruising through a narrow gorge.

Decoration along the trench that was carved out for the barges to continue their travels.

Coming around a bend at the end of the Géneland trench.

Lock doors are opening.

Rabelo exiting a lock.  It’s always a tight fit.

Rabelo tied up in St Leger sur Dheune 

It’s a small world.  We were able to visit with Jane Lee and Larry Winter on the hotel barge Finess. Jane Lee owns Town and Country Travel and we were fortunate enough to go with them to Africa on one of their guided trips.