Originally, Saint-Fargeau was a fortified hunting residence, built in 980 by Héribert, bishop of Auxerre, and natural son of Hugh the Great and brother of Hugues Capet.

[3] In 1411, there was a siege of the residence, then lands passed to Louis de Bar, bishop of Verdun and cardinal, who bequeathed them in 1430 to his nephew Jean-Jacques, Marquis of Montferrat.

Several generation later, the first cousin of Louis XIV, Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier, (also known as La Grande Mademoiselle) was exiled to Saint-Fargeau because of her position during the Fronde.

[2] The duchess's (secret) husband and heir, Antonin Nompar de Caumont, 1st Duke of Lauzun sold the castle in 1714.

[4] In 1752, a fire destroyed the interior as well as the two houses adjoining the chapel, the old apartments of La Grande Mademoiselle, the gallery and the guards' room, which was the largest in France at the time of its creation.

In the 19th century, "two bodies of buildings were converted into dormitories, one of which consisted mostly of guest-rooms, which were given hunters in winter by the guests," a period which was evoked by the vast "truly grandiose dining room.

The dome ceiling is beautifully decorated with an eagle with outstretched wings, high and severe woodwork", and some reproductions of old photographs exhibited in the room of the Gardes.

In 1974, the award-winning author Jean d'Ormesson published his book, Au plaisir de Dieu, wherein he wrote about his childhood experiences at the castle.

[2] In 1977, Michel Guyot and his brother Jacques, supported by the local authorities, acquired the château and its estate and undertook to restore it and bring it back to life.

There is also a sound and light show organized by the association "Les Amis du Château de Saint-Fargeau" to raise funds for additional restorations.

This tower was also deliberately built to lean inwards in order to more effectively channel rainwater to the storage vessels within the castle.