Château d'Uzel

Château d'Uzel in Pelousey is a 17th- or 18th-century manor house in the Doubs department, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, now home to a sheltered work facility.

Where is the château located?

The building stands on Rue du Séminaire in Pelousey, a small commune in the Doubs department, at an altitude of roughly 259 metres. It sits in a quiet, rural corner of Franche-Comté, typical of the small villages surrounding Besançon, the departmental capital. Unlike a fortified castle, Château d'Uzel is a discreet country residence woven into the surrounding farmland rather than a landmark that dominates the skyline.

What is the history behind it?

The exact construction date is uncertain, since documents relating to the estate were destroyed during the French Revolution. Historians place its origins in either the 17th or 18th century. The first confirmed mention of the property dates to 1776, when Claude-Edme Lamy de Laperrière took possession of it. He had acquired ties to the estate after marrying, in 1755, Claude Alexandrine Bietrix, daughter of Jean-Baptiste Joseph Bietrix — a magistrate and mayor of Besançon in 1728. This lineage links the château to the local political and judicial elite of the region, a small but telling piece of provincial nobility history in Franche-Comté rather than a chapter of national French history.

What happens at the château today?

The estate's fortunes changed dramatically in the second half of the 20th century. In 1983, the association Adapei de Besançon, which supports people with intellectual disabilities, purchased the château and converted it into an ESAT — a French sheltered workshop (établissement et service d'aide par le travail). Around the same time, in the 1980s, La Ferme d'Uzel was established on the grounds, a working farm run as a job-integration facility and now managed by Adapei du Doubs. From a private noble residence, the château has become a place of work and social inclusion.

Can visitors go inside?

Because the building now functions as an active sheltered workshop alongside its farm, Château d'Uzel is not a conventional tourist attraction with scheduled interior tours. Visitors can view the exterior and grounds while walking through Pelousey, a village small enough to cover on foot in well under an hour. It suits travellers interested in local social and architectural history more than those seeking a classic castle tour.

How do you get there?

Pelousey lies in the Doubs department, in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, a short distance from Besançon. The easiest way to reach it is by car, along the roads connecting the surrounding villages to the departmental capital. A stop at the château pairs well with a longer drive through neighbouring villages of the Doubs valley, which share the same rural character.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer are the best seasons to come, when longer days and the greenery around the château make a walk through the village especially pleasant.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of Château d'Uzel? No — it operates as a working sheltered workshop (ESAT) and farm, so the interior is not open to tourists. Only the exterior can be viewed.

How old is the château? Its exact construction date is unknown because the estate's documents were destroyed during the French Revolution. Historians estimate it was built in the 17th or 18th century.

Who was the first documented owner? Claude-Edme Lamy de Laperrière, recorded from 1776, after marrying Claude Alexandrine Bietrix, daughter of a magistrate and mayor of Besançon from 1728.

What operates at the château today? La Ferme d'Uzel, a farm run as a job-integration facility for people with disabilities, managed by Adapei du Doubs, alongside the ESAT sheltered workshop itself.