A fortified castle

Ainay-le-Vieil, a 13th century fortified castle with its towers, moats, guardrooms, covered walkway... In the courtyard, two dwellings, one from the 13th century and a graceful residence dating from the end of the 15th century, which combines flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance styles. Bought by the Lords of Bigny in 1467, their descendants are still the owners of this private historical monument in which one can discover the memories and traces of illustrious people such as Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne, Colbert, Marie-Antoinette or Napoleon. So many testimonies of French History to be discovered during guided tours, through the superb and majestic rooms.

A park and gardens

In the landscaped park with century-old trees surrounding the castle, the gardens offer a beautiful contrast between the long perspectives on the water of the Renaissance canals and the enclosed gardens (Hortus conclusus) of the Carthusian monasteries. They guide us through a real walk in the art of gardens: the rose garden by two Renaissance Pavilions, the Carré en l'île with its palisade-cut hornbeams and the 5 chartreuses, each with its own themed garden: the mixed-border, the sculpted orchard, the meditation garden, the cloister of the simple and the parterres de broderies de buis.

Water as a link

This unique location is known for the omnipresence of water. Used for defense, as when surrounding the Château, it is for enjoyment when it flows around the gardens to form the Grand Carré de l’île, due to a sensible canal system and becomes useful when, through a series of weirs and spillways, it powers the mill and the wash-house.

…à la une

A must-see