Château to change ownership

The ownership of the château, Châteauneuf-en-Auxois is due to change hands from the state to the Burgundy region in January 2008.

In a recent meeting the transfer of ownership was approved by the elected officials from the conseil régional but despite this approval the actual transfer will not take place until the beginning of 2008.

According to François Patriat, president of the conseil régional, the operation will also include an evaluation of the historic monument with the objective of attracting between 35,000 and 50,000 visitors a year.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be more than 3 million euros, which reflects the restoration required on the building built in the middle ages in the Auxois region of Burgundy and the creation of centre at Vandenesse in the valley below the village.