The modern-style empty staircase of Château de Cormatin

In the heart of Cormatin, Saône-et-Loire, lies Château de Cormatin, a 17th-century chateau on an island of the Grosne river. Built between 1606 and 1612, the chateau showcases a unique mix of Renaissance style with an architectural appearance inspired by the citadel of Chalon, featuring rare details. The chateau preserves the oldest empty staircase of its type in France. The south wing of the chateau corresponds to the large body of the house built with a three-story plan and floors.

One of the oldest ceilings in the cabinet des curiosités is the one "à ciel". Château de Cormatin was officially classified as a Monument historique in 1862, and was later classified again in 1903. The gardens, covering twelve hectares, feature a labyrinth of boxwood and a central pavilion, built in 1990.

Château de Cormatin is open to the public every day, including holidays. A partial visit includes a free visit of the 1900 rooms and the park, while a complete visit offers a guided tour of the 17th-century apartments and a free visit of the 1900 rooms and the park.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons