Château for sale
This 15th-century château in the Jura on sale for £1.3 million was once a legendary regional nightclub
On the banks of the Seille in the Jura, a 15th-century château where Henri IV once stayed is back on the market. Between 1980 and 2012, its halls hosted the legendary nightclub 'Le Babylone', a hotspot for the region’s nightlife.
Editorial journal · Carte des Châteaux ·
In Domblans, just a few kilometres from Lons-le-Saunier, a 15th-century fortified château has reappeared on the property market. Built on the banks of the Seille, it has weathered the Wars of Religion, 19th-century bourgeois restorations, and a far more unexpected chapter: that of a much-loved nightclub, 'Le Babylone', which closed in 2012. Now on sale for £1.3 million, this seven-hectare estate offers a unique glimpse into the turbulent history of French châteaux, torn between heritage and reinvention.
A château resurfaces
On the banks of the Seille in the Jura, a 15th-century fortified château has just been put back on the market. Its understated architecture gives no hint of the surprising recent chapter in its history: for thirty years, its halls pulsed with the region’s liveliest nights.
A history stretching back to the 15th century
The château belonged to the Lords of Domblans from the 15th century, then to Claude de Vautravers from 1444. During the Wars of Religion, Henri de Navarre—future Henri IV—stopped here. The building was later restored at the end of the 19th century by the Vermot family.
A turbulent timeline
'Le Babylone', the nightclub that defined a region
Purchased around 1980 by Jean-Marie Adam, a decorator renowned for designing nightclubs across France, the château became 'Le Babylone'. For nearly three decades, it drew nightlife enthusiasts from across the Jura, before closing in 2012 due to safety concerns. A vivid memory for many locals, long after the dancefloors fell silent.
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