Époisses is a small, picturesque commune in the Côte-d'Or department of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France. Located about 20 km southwest of Montbard and 92 km northwest of Dijon, the departmental capital, it covers 21.72 square kilometers and acts as a rural crossroads between Haute Bourgogne, the Morvan, and the Tonnerrois areas. With a population of approximately 724 as of 2022, Époisses is renowned for Époisses de Bourgogne, a pungent, soft-ripened cow’s milk cheese with Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) status since 1996, washed with Marc de Bourgogne brandy. The commune is also home to the historic Château d’Époisses, a classified monument owned by the same family for four centuries. Part of the Communauté de communes des Terres d’Auxois, Époisses embodies rural Burgundy’s charm, blending agriculture, heritage, and tourism.
Époisses lies at coordinates 47°30′28″N 4°10′28″E, with elevations
between 233 and 321 meters. Its landscape is predominantly agricultural,
with 90.6% of land used for farming (59.5% arable, 28.7% meadows), 4%
forests, 3.8% urbanized areas, and 1.6% water, based on 2018 land use
data. This reflects a slight decline from 92.9% agricultural land in
1990. The commune features scattered housing and is part of the
Semur-en-Auxois attraction area, bordering small communes like
Corrombles (2.4 km away) and Forléans (4.1 km away). The setting
includes plains, meadows, and wooded hills typical of the Brie and
Auxois regions.
The climate is an altered oceanic type, influenced by
the Lorraine plateau, Langres, and Morvan. Data from the nearby
Saint-André-en-Terre-Plaine station (1991–2020) show an average annual
temperature of 11.3°C, with a 16.2°C thermal range. Winters are cold,
averaging 1.5°C in January, with frequent autumn and winter fog, while
summers average 19°C in July. Precipitation totals 849.9 mm over 120
days annually, with December the wettest (around 74 mm) and April the
driest (around 44 mm). Moderate winds are common, and climate
projections for 2050 suggest potential shifts in temperature and
rainfall patterns. In early August 2025, local weather was mild, with
temperatures ranging from 12°C to 25°C.
Époisses traces its origins to medieval times, centered around a
fortified castle first built in the 6th century, with significant
expansions in the 10th, 13th, 14th, and 18th centuries. The Château
d’Époisses, once featuring two enclosures, four towers, and a
13th-century keep, was enhanced by figures like Imbert de La Platière de
Bourdillon, a marshal of France. It was linked to nobility like the
great Condé and the Marquise de Sévigné. A 12th-century abbey, now in
ruins, once thrived nearby. During the French Revolution, the castle
faced partial destruction in 1791, but negotiations with the Committee
of Public Safety preserved much of it by lowering tower heights. The
château and its gardens were later classified as historical monuments.
The cheese tradition began in the early 16th century with Cistercian
monks at Cîteaux Abbey. After their departure, local farmers refined the
recipe, and by the 19th century, Époisses cheese was celebrated
(Napoleon reportedly loved it). Production nearly ceased by the 1950s
but was revived in 1956 by Robert and Simone Berthaut, whose family
continues at Fromagerie Berthaut. The cheese earned AOC status in 1991
and AOP in 1996, cementing its cultural and economic significance.
Historical maps from the 18th and 19th centuries show evolving land use,
reflecting Époisses’s rural continuity.
Époisses’s economy is anchored in agriculture, with Époisses cheese
as its flagship product. This soft, washed-rind cheese, made from whole
cow’s milk (raw or pasteurized), follows strict AOP rules across
designated communes in Côte-d’Or, Haute-Marne, and Yonne. Fromagerie
Berthaut, the main producer of fermier Époisses, crafts it in circular
forms (10–18 cm diameter), washed with brine and Marc de Bourgogne, and
packaged in wooden boxes. Production is labor-intensive, peaking in
winter, but faces challenges from climate-driven milk shortages,
prompting AOP rule exemptions since 2015. Dairy farming uses breeds like
Brune, Simmental, and Montbéliarde.
In 2023, Époisses had 40
businesses employing 211 people, with sectors including construction
(27.5%), commerce/transport/services (35.0%), and agriculture (12.5%).
Most firms (75%) have 1–9 employees. In 2024, five new enterprises
emerged, mainly in services and manufacturing. Unemployment was 9.8% in
2022, with an employment concentration of 113.4, indicating more local
jobs than employed residents. Median income per consumption unit was
€21,060 in 2021. Tourism, driven by cheese tastings, castle visits, and
festivals, supplements the economy, alongside bovine and crop farming.
Époisses had a population of 724 in 2022, down 8.01% from 787 in 2016
and a peak of 820 in 1982. Density is 33.3 inhabitants per square
kilometer. Historical data show 1,097 residents in 1793, stabilizing at
600–800 through the 20th century. From 2016–2022, the population
declined 1.4% annually due to a negative natural balance (-1.0%) and
migration (-0.4%). The birth rate was 7.5‰ and death rate 17.8‰ in 2022,
compared to 12.5‰ for both in 1968.
The population is aging, with
22.1% aged 60–74 (up from 16.7% in 2011) and 14.1% aged 75+, while youth
(0–14) fell to 13.8%. There are slightly more women (376) than men
(348). Household size averaged 2.03 occupants per primary residence in
2022, down from 3.30 in 1968. Among those 15+, 40.1% are married, 25.8%
single, and 12.8% in concubinage, with 64.6% of those 80+ living alone.
The active population (15–64: 412) is 78.9%, with 71.1% employed (73.1%
men, 69.1% women). Some projections suggest a slight rise to 732 by
2025, but municipal data hold at 724.
Époisses’s culture centers on its cheese and heritage, with Époisses de Bourgogne celebrated for its bold aroma and flavor, often paired with Bourgogne wines at local festivals. Events include the bread and wine festival on the first Sunday in May, the Epoiss’Festival in late July with outdoor performances, and a garage sale on August 15. A 2025 digital art exhibition by Denis Rodella at the Château d’Époisses (July 5–August 31) showcases modern creativity. The parish church hosts religious and cultural activities, fostering community ties. Education is managed regionally, with vocational training in agriculture and cheese-making likely linked to nearby centers. The cheese’s fame adds a playful cultural note, humorously noted for being banned on French public transport due to its smell.
The Château d’Époisses is the main attraction, with 6th-century origins, featuring a 13th-century keep, 15th-century houses, and a 17th-century dovecote with 3,000 niches. Its French and English gardens are open year-round (park: 2 euros, interiors: 4–9 euros), offering reenactments and cheese tastings. The 13th-century Église Saint-Symphorien houses religious art, while Fromagerie Berthaut provides cheese-making demonstrations. Other sites include Château de Bourbilly remnants and priory vestiges. Outdoor draws include a summer swimming pool (July–August, 2.50–3.50 euros), hiking and biking trails, and pilgrimage routes to Vézelay, appealing to heritage and nature enthusiasts.
Époisses relies on road access via the RD954, connecting to Semur-en-Auxois and Montbard. Dijon is 92 km away (about 1 hour 8 minutes by car), and nearby communes are 4–10 minutes away. No major rail or air hubs exist locally, but Montbard’s train station and Dijon’s infrastructure support regional travel. Rural roads and hiking paths encourage cycling and walking tourism.
In 2024–2025, Époisses emphasized cultural and environmental efforts. The Denis Rodella digital art exhibition at the château highlights innovation. Cheese production faces climate challenges, with milk shortages prompting AOP rule exemptions, exacerbated by a 2025 lumpy skin disease outbreak affecting French dairy. Tourism thrives with events and wine pairings, such as Époisses with local wines. Population data from 2022 (effective 2025) confirm 724 residents, with 2024 seeing new service-based businesses. Climate projections for 2050 note potential agricultural impacts, but Époisses continues to leverage its cheese and heritage for economic and cultural vitality.