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Centuries

Generations

CHÂTELET ENTRANCE château d'Ainay-le-Vieil, Cher, France

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The château guardhouse

Among the images of the Middle Ages, one in particular stands out: the image of the fortifiedchâteau . There were castles of all shapes and sizes, but they all shared a common goal.ut all were united by a common goal: to protect the most vulnerable part of the château at all costs: the gate.

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The Renaissance château

1453. The Hundred Years' War was drawing to a close, and peace was returning to the kingdom of France. In the field ofcivil architecture, this is reflected inan extraordinary vitality: the last fortified castles soon give way to more amiable seigneurial residences...

Aerial view of château d'Ainay le Vieil
Aerial view of château d'Ainay le Vieil

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Castles and fortifications

When you think of the Middle Ages, and try to define their most characteristic feature, the image of the château comes to mind.

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The water garden

What would Ainay-le-Vieil be without water?
Indeed, it is found both as a defensive element around the fortified château with its moats, and as an amenity that will structure and shape the landscape in a very organized way in the gardens.
Let's discover together the history of the evolution of the role of water...

Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil, moat, century-old tree on a sunny day