CHAROLLES, a town of east-central France, capital of an arrondissement in the department of Saone-et-Loire, at the con fluence of the Semence and Arconce, 39 m. W.N.W. of Macon. Pop. (193I) 2,883.
Charolles was the capital of Charolais which from the early 14th century gave the title of count to its possessors. The ruins of their castle are on a hill near the town. In 1327 the countship passed by marriage to the house of Armagnac, and in 1390 it was sold to Philip of Burgundy. After the death of Charles the Bold it was seized by Louis XI. of France, but in 1493 it was ceded by Charles VIII. to Maximilian of Austria. Ultimately passing to the Spanish kings, its possession became disputed, until in 1684 it was assigned to Conde, a creditor of the king of Spain. It was united to the French crown in 1771.
There are stone quarries in the vicinity ; the town manufactures pottery, and is the centre for trade in the famous breed of Charolais cattle and has also a timber trade. It has a sub-pre fecture and tribunals of primary instance and commerce.