Arielle and Hervé Borne take over the Château d'Ainay-Le-Vieil in the Cher department. This monument, classified as a Historic Monument, which has belonged to the same family for more than half a millennium, has been taken over by the younger generation.
The castle of Ainay-le-Viel, built in the 13th century, is a powerful fortress, formerly owned by Jacques Cœur. Essential in the defence of the Kingdom of France during the Hundred Years' War, this fortress was softened during the Renaissance by the Lords of Bigny who made it their residence from 1467. This is the date when the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil came into the family.
551 years and 26 generations later, this medieval castle is still in the same family whose ancestors have marked French history:
Colbert, minister of Louis XIV, the Duchess of Tourzel, governess of the children of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette during the Revolution, and Auguste de Colbert, a brilliant Empire general close to Napoleon.
In 1954, Baron and Baroness Géraud d'Aligny, née Colbert, opened the château to the public and participated in the creation of the Route Jacques Cœur. From then on, the family divided its heritage into opening the castle to the general publicTheir six children continue this adventure. Jean-Baptiste, Michel, Auguste, Jean-Pierre d'Aligny, Marie-France de Peyronnet and Marie-Sol de La Tour d'Auvergne developed the cultural and touristic aspect of the castle.Today, Arielle, daughter of Marie-Sol de La Tour d'Auvergne, and her husband Hervé Borne, are taking over the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil.
A new adventure begins: Following a major wave of work that is starting now, during which the castle and its gardens remain open to the public, many projects are being implemented.
A new reception area and a redesigned shop from next spring, a restaurant and five guest rooms in 2019, the opening of three gîtes in 2020.
Arielle, a photographer, and Hervé, a journalist, are bringing their dynamism and bringing the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil into the 21st century.
