The jewel of the eighteenth century heritage, Castle Digoine remains a witness to a rich and long history. Registering as the first of the four baronies of Charolais, his lords held a prominent place in the court of the Dukes.
The history of the castle dates back to 1390 when Robert Damascus wife Marie de Digoine, the ultimate representative of the family. Under the name of Damascus Digoine they made erect the imposing towers of the north façade, giving the building its first defensive elements. Then, after the esplanade south, two towers connected by a dry moat will frame the main gate will complete and integrate the castle in the medieval era.
It was not until the late eighteenth century that the castle of Digoine evolving accreditation house and adopt its final appearance. This transformation is driven by Reclesne, rich Nevers family having bought the estate lands begins to dream of a more lavish revival. Thus, in 1723 have taken the first reconstruction work; these will continue for almost fifty years.
In 1750, midterm, family Reclesne uses Burgundian architect Edme Verniquet. Known for having spread the castles of Saint-Aubin-sur-Loire, Lugny-lès-Charolles or Vigneau in Bourbon-Lancy, Verniquet agrees to put his talent to the family of Reclesne. First he model the northern facade in baroque style of Louis XIV influence, adorning all a very nice front center body and beautiful masks. Then he erected the magnificent South façade in a particularly recognizable pattern: the central body, three doors in entrance facade framed left and right of the other three windows with a pediment installed at the top. All this together reflects the evolution of French architecture of the period.
In the early nineteenth century, the marriage Beloved Count Chabrillan, Grand Chamberlain of France of Napoleon I and Countess Zephyrine Olympus Choiseul Gouffier just seal the transmission domain to the family of Chabrillan. Operating in a dazzling splendor, the new owners continue the work initiated by embellishments of their ancestors. undeniable marker of economic supremacy, social and political of these, Digoine is growing dramatically between 1825 and 1842. Indeed, a greenhouse of exotic plants equipped with underfloor heating a rare modernity, library magnifier elm and a small private theater will be added to a portfolio already considerable. In addition, fabulous scenery, one of the sculptor Clodion settled in the majestic halls of the castle.
In 1908, the Marquise de Croix bought the estate to his son Pierre who then forwards the three generations. But in 2012, problems of joint forces the family to sell. By investing, Jean-Louis Rémilleux, current owner, bought, at first, the empty castle and then, in a second time, the historical elements which made up; this at a big auction in Paris. On the other hand, a passionate antiques, he added his own collections in the majestic halls of the castle, carefully ensuring that each element is consistent with the time of the room in which it is located. Finally, he undertook significant work to make this "Pearl of Charolais" its former glory.
Spread over 35 hectares, the area of Digoine consists of a multitude of areas to specific facilities. They offer visitors different atmospheres conducive to contemplation to stroll or meditation.
The South Esplanade: A double row of plane trees, oaks of America and lime trees frames the south aisle, which was once the main entrance of the castle of Digoine. In the Middle Ages, a drawbridge across the moat replaced the large current portal. Once inside, topiary yew define the path to the courtyard. These were replanted by the current owner. Historical Monument, the route to the contour of the space in grass by the renowned landscape architect Achille Duchêne.
The audience of 1920 Achille Duchêne: restored identically to the original one, the pit adorning the front of the greenhouse is also the work of Achille Duchêne. It was designed at the request of the Cross Count, owners of domain Digoine throughout the twentieth century. The standard roses that we can admire today correspond to the variety "Garden of Granville." The boxwood gardens are present in the treated Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring bacteria.
The greenhouse: Iron and glass greenhouse was built in 1830 at the request of Chabrillan in order to grow plant species that could not have become acclimated to the area. Building particularly expensive, the approach to spend large sums in order to hold a power over nature was the greenhouse a status symbol. Particularly modern for the time, a boiler installed in the basement until the twentieth century diffused heat via pipes under the shelves. Restored in 2008, the greenhouse now houses the collection of the owner plants. Found there, among others, grapefruit, lemon and a giant Agave.
The rose garden: Installed in 2017, the Rose Garden is one of the major works of recent years. Featuring more than 2,000 old roses divided into sixty varieties, it is enhanced by plant rooms composed of 600 young yew. The dynamic shapes and colors worn by particularly flattering scents gives the rose garden a soft and soothing atmosphere in which the public likes to linger.
The vegetable garden: Finished at the site of the ancient cemetery of the convent of Picpus Brothers (which existed from 1609 to 1776), the vegetable garden has been completely redeveloped. The vegetables grow that are cultivated for consumption.
The new French garden: Last external creation of Digoine, the new French garden was completed in 2018 and replaces a former air theater. Inspired by Duchene Achilles achievements, he was selected from a dozen proposals. There are various species of roses, peonies, dahlias, but also in the center of the triangular plots, garlic decorative and the cosmos. Installed by the owner, a firepot is the focal point of realization.
The English garden: Described as "Beautiful park bordering a magnificent pond" by Jules and Edmond de Goncourt, the English garden dates from the years 1750-1770. Designed by architect Edme Verniquet this garden called "irregular" sets up dramatically in the late eighteenth century, breaking with the "dictatorship of the cord" of the French gardens in the words of a certain Jean- Jacques Rousseau... Inviting to walk and contemplation, the English garden tends to magnify the natural beauty of the landscape through intervention in any subtlety behind which the presence of man is forgotten. Here, walkways wind through large lawns that border the pond and wooded areas on the outskirts. Very picturesque, a boat cabin (called "boat house" in England) sublimates this context particularly soothing.