A medieval and Renaissance Château
château d'Ainay-le-Vieil is a 13th-century plain fortress in the Cher department (18).
The château was built on the site of an earlier fortress. Two dwellings were built inside the enclosure: the feudal dwelling in the 13th century and the Renaissance dwelling in the 15th century.
The keep disappeared during the Renaissance and was replaced by a main building. château d'Ainay-le-Vieil is divided into two parts, one medieval and the other pre-Renaissance.
Discover Château d'Ainay le Vieil
Discover an undefeated medieval fortress
The fortified enclosure, built in the second half of the 13th century, is octagonal, irregular, surrounded by wide moats, flanked by seven cylindrical towers with arches and a two-tower châtelet entrance. The ramparts are still in place, with a walkway overlooking the moat and courtyard. These enabled visitors to make a complete tour of the enclosure. The drawbridge was replaced by a drawbridge in the 19th century.
The châtelet was dedicated to the defense of the fortress, where it protected the only entrance. Very well preserved, it is an excellent and virtually intact example of the military architecture of the period. It still has its two guardhouses.
The feudal dwelling is built against the ramparts. This quadrangular building was the seigneurial dwelling
directly linked to the guardhouse by a covered exterior gallery. The room on the first floor of the dwelling was the seigneurial "grand hall". It was the center of life at the château, where the Seigneur exercised his civil, administrative and judicial powers, and where he received his guests.
Discover the Renaissance dwelling
The Renaissance dwelling was completed́ before 1515. Leaning against the surrounding wall, it is built at right-angles to the only right angle of this enclosure. Its courtyard facade features two wings arranged on either side of the octagonal-plan tower of honor housing the staircase. The Italian influence can be seen in the imperial domed roof, which supports the dragon, and the two loggias on the facades, new for the time, as well as the abundant sculpted decoration.
The door to the grand staircase is surmounted by a pediment of great symbolic richness. The
tympanum bears the Bigny coat of arms: the shield with a lion surrounded by chevesnes (for Chevenon) surmounted by a helmet with a dog, symbol of fidelitý. The supporters are two
sirens, the motto, "Courage ennobles and exalts men". Above are the arms of France borne by the angel, and surmounted by the image of the Virgin carrying the infant Jesus. The feudal hierarchy is thus clearly established between the vassal and God through the king, a consecrated figure.
Inside, the large living room is remarkable for its fireplace decorated in honor ofAnne de Bretagne and Louis XIIone of the finest in the Loire Valley; the chapel is exceptional for its architectural features - sculpted coffered ceiling - and murals by Jean Boucher and his workshop, and stained glass by Lécuyera master glassmaker who worked at Bourges Cathedral.
The tour is punctuated by historical and family memories and handed down from generation to generation..
