Restored Château Gatehouse with Pool in a Medieval Burgundy Village
in the medieval village of Marnay, just 30 minutes from Besançon, a former gatehouse to the Château de Marnay has been reimagined as a modern maison de maître with a private pool, sweeping views, and a quiet kind of permanence.
Originally built in the 18th century as the entrance to one of the region’s most formidable castles, the house carries centuries of stonework in its bones—sculpted stairs by les Compagnons du Devoir (the highest level of French craftsmanship), exposed beams, lime-washed façades. But inside, it’s clean-lined and intentional, with tailored interiors, noble materials, and a layout that doesn’t shout for attention. It’s the kind of renovation that respects the past without getting stuck in it.
The house spans 3250 sq ft (300 m² ) across four levels, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a series of airy living spaces that open out to a landscaped garden and a long pool edged in travertine. There's also a wine-worthy cellar below and the kind of terrace made for extended lunches under filtered sun.
Marnay itself is a quiet, fortified village with deep roots and good bones: 16 remaining towers, a gothic church, and medieval alleyways known as trajes. It’s set above the Ognon River, which means fishing, paddling, and canoeing are part of the rhythm here, along with the distant chime of a church bell. You can hear it from the pool.
This part of Burgundy-Franche-Comté is less known than the Côte d'Or, but that’s the point. The wine is still excellent, the food still deeply regional (Comté, wild mushrooms, Jura whites), and the pace is slow enough to notice the changing light.
For those looking to leave Paris, London, or Geneva behind without losing touch with good taste or good design, this is one of those rare properties that feels both rooted and ready.
All photos belong to the listing agency.
