The pride of the Berry area, the town of Aubigny-sur-Nère has kept many treasures from its rich past, for example its half-timbered houses. These timber-framed buildings, some of which date back to the 16th-century, blend in tastefully with the stone structures. One of the most famous is the Bailiff's house on Rue du Bourg-Coutant. It has remarkable carved posts and a medallion depicting King Charles VII. In addition, the Francis I house on the corner with Rue de l'église features some very pretty carved windows.
As well as this emblem of Aubigny-sur-Nère, the village still shows the traces of its Scottish past. Following an alliance during the Hundred Years War, Aubigny-sur-Nère was effectively given to Scotland by the King of France, at the turn of the 15th century. This earned it the name of City of the Stuarts, in reference to the head of the Scottish army. So be sure to pay a visit to the castle that bears their name! Admire some of its treasures, such as the entrance pavilion with its corbelled turrets and a porch whose keystone bears the arms of Robert Stuart. There are other gems tucked away inside, including a stunning wooden ceiling in the shape of an inverted boat hull.
If you are visiting Aubigny-sur-Nère in July, don't miss the Franco-Scottish festival celebrating the two cultures. Expect costume parades to the sound of bagpipes and lots more entertainment!
Aubigny-sur-Nère, City of the Stuarts...
One foot in Sologne and the other towards the slopes of Sancerre, Aubigny is in a way a "capital" of the North of the Cher. Superbly flowery in the green setting of the Nère valley, Aubigny is proud of its national label "4 flowers".
Unmissable stop on the Jacques Coeur Route and a veritable open-air museum, Aubigny still bears witness to the Scottish imprint which has forged its history and whose originality rarely leaves you indifferent. No wonder the city was awarded in 2018 the label "Small City of Character" enhancing its rich architectural heritage.
A place of memory for the Auld Alliance, this incredible love story between France and Scotland which culminated in the reign of Marie Stuart, Aubigny is rich in an exceptional architectural heritage of sixteenth century half-timbered houses. Its castle, haunted by the memory of the knights of the Auld Alliance, by the marvelous silhouette of Louise de Keroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth and Aubigny, favorite of the king of England Charles II and by the shadows of the Dukes of Richmond, Lennox and Aubigny, brings together the memory of this small Scottish city.
Every year, since 1990 around July 14, the city reconnects with its Scottish past during the Franco-Scottish Holidays. The sound of bagpipes resonates and pipe bands invade the City of the Stuarts! Tens of thousands of people descend on the city to fervently celebrate Aubigny's centuries-old friendship with the Scots.
Today, Aubigny is a dynamic city where life is good. A center of excellence in the mechanical industry, it has managed to preserve a welcoming and lively historic and commercial center. Aubigny happily combines its past and its future, between Berry and Sologne.
