Château de Coligny-le-Viel : château du Châtaignat et sa tour de Menthon

During the Carolingian period, feudalism was established. A noble family, under the suzerainty of the counts of Burgundy, appeared at the head of the land of Coligny. Its first lords, known around 868, bore the name Manassès. The first document mentioning the castle dates from 974.
Dismantled by the troops of Louis XI after the Franco-Burgundian war of 1477-1479, its stones were used to build some of the houses in Old Coligny. The Countess Leopoldine Eberhardine, lady of Coligny-le-Neuf, wife of Charles-Léopold de Sandersleden, was buried there in 1786, according to her will, the rock of the Marquisate being her property. She was Marquise de Coligny-le-Vieux. During the 19th century, the rock was covered with vines. Today, it lies on the edge of the old royal road.
The tower of Menthon was built in 1479 by Georges de Menthon, husband of Marie de Coligny. The bridge near the tower led to the keep; its base disappeared due to a landslide.
The castle is privately owned and is not open to visitors.