Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil was bought by the Lords of Bigny, our ancestors, in 1467. Since then, it has always been in our family. My mother was born there, as were her brothers and sisters. They managed the château for many years. I spent most of my holidays here surrounded by family and friends. I have wonderful memories of it and am very attached to it, as has been my husband since we got married. Then we came to the point when we had to make a decision. Who would take over? My mother's family or my aunts and uncles’ families? There were 13 grandchildren, so it was too many people to manage Ainay altogether. In the end, it was my husband and I who took over.
Ainay-le-Vieil is a 13th-century fortified castle with nine towers, surrounded by a moat, a double guardhouse and a sentry walk. In the courtyard, two dwellings face each other: a 13th-century building and a graceful late 15th-century building, which combines flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance styles. The gardens provide a wonderful contrast between the long views over the water of the Renaissance canals and the enclosed gardens (Hortus conclusus) of the neatly cultivated garden plots. They take you on a walk through spectacular garden scenery: the rose garden with its two Renaissance pergolas, the vast square with its hornbeams trained in espaliers, and the five plots, each with a theme (a mixed border, sculpted orchard, meditation garden, cloister with simple plants and boxwood flowerbeds). The main feature of this unique place is the water all around. This water is defensive when surrounding the château, then it becomes a source of pleasure when it flows around the gardens thanks to a clever network of channels. It also makes itself useful by sending water to the mill and the washhouse through a clever interplay of scoops and weirs.
The château is built on a site once occupied by the Gallo-Romans. Fortified since the High Middle Ages, it is located on the border that separated the Frankish lands from those of Aquitaine, and later those of the Kings of France from the English territories. This strategic position, which was particularly important until the end of the Hundred Years' War, explains the size of its double walls, which ensured strength and durability. Bought from the Culants in 1435 by Jacques Coeur, Charles VII's paymaster, the castle was confiscated from him when he fell from grace. It was then purchased on 14 December 1467 by Charles de Chevenon, Lord of Bigny and Grand Master of the Coureurs de France, the royal post office founded by Louis XI. At the end of the Hundred Years' War, it was bought by the Lords of Bigny in 1467, who transformed the castle into its present Renaissance style. It was inhabited by the descendants of the Bigny family for over six centuries, from whom we are descended.
Thanks to the natural surroundings and its Renaissance-style and contemporary water gardens, the château offers an incomparably gentle lifestyle. It is also a fascinating site which is rich in history. You can discover the history and traces of illustrious figures such as Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne, the Colbert, Marie-Antoinette and Napoleon. There are so many remnants of the history of France to be explored on guided tours through the majestic rooms. There is a Museum of Folk Art and Traditions, which traces the life of the village of Ainay-le-Vieil on the eve of the 1914 war open to visitors. Our restaurant, "La Volière", located in the château grounds, serves French and international cuisine. There are no fewer than 52 places to sleep in a single location, promising memorable moments for young and old alike. With tours, escape games, shopping, bistronomy and a rich cultural offering throughout the tourist season, there is something for everyone.
"Les jardins d'Orsan" for their beauty, tea room and shop. The Apremont-sur-Allier floral park and carriage museum. Châteaufer to discover its agro-ecological farm. The Galerie Capazza for its venue and exhibitions. “Le clos d'Émile" restaurant in Mornay-sur-Allier. The tearoom at Noirlac Abbey, with its top-quality concerts and music and sound creation workshops. The Berry canal for bike rides. The Théâtre de la Carrosserie Mesnier in Saint-Amand-Montrond for theatre fans. And for the more adventurous: bungee jumping from the Château de Culan, a flying course and a first flight in an ultralight trike at Saint-Christophe-le-Chaudry.
The château has two rooms equipped with fibre-optic internet access. The Salle des Archers, a magnificent vaulted hall dating back to the 17th century, covers an area of around 210 m² and can seat up to 200 people. The Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions covers an area of around 110 m² and can accommodate up to 100 people. 20 rooms are available in four gîtes and there are five inside the château. Each bedroom has a bathroom with a walk-in shower and a double bed that can be converted into two single beds. The château's restaurant offers breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners, buffets and cocktails on request. A number of activities are available on site or close to the château: personalised guided tours of the château, grounds, gardens and museum of folk arts and traditions, escape game sessions in the château's cellars, as well as various activities focusing on nature, eco-responsibility and well-being. An on-site team develops programmes tailored to customers' needs.
ref 313873
Lectures on various themes are given on the European Heritage Days.
"La Volière”, the château's restaurant, is housed in a 17th-century building in the heart of the gardens, overlooking the rose garden. The chef, Maria Rodriguez, serves gastronomic creations from the Centre-Val de Loire, as well as a revisited and exotic cuisine, a testament to her Italian/Latin-American origins.
Various exhibitions are on show in the period when the château is open, from 29 March 2024 to 29 September 2024.
The Rencontres musicales du château d'Ainay-le-Vieil. Four days of concerts with David Molard Soriano from 15 to 18 August 2024.
The château has a museum of popular arts and traditions that retraces the life of the village of Ainay-le-Vieil on the eve of the 1914 war.
Free and paying visits to the gardens during the castle's open period.
Guided tours of the château are available for a fee when the château is open.
A 100 m² shop sells picnic baskets, decorative items, delicatessen items, books for adults and children, and toys. It is the ideal place to discover the expertise of local artisans and producers, as well as a selection of products created exclusively for the château. There is also a flea market for bargain hunters.
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