Park

Folie 19e

Park

The chateau, located on the banks of the Burgundy Canal, is set in the centre of a magnificent park of 123 acres. Numerous streams and an immense pond offer a delicate charm in this space filled with greenery and relics of past times.

The French-style garden:
In 1684 when the Marquis de Louvois acquired the chateau, he set about to give it the character of a true Grand Siècle residence (referring to the Great Century in France, the 17th century). He ordered for relics of the medieval wall, on the north west side of the chateau, to be demolished, so as to open up the area for huge outbuildings arranged around two courtyards.

To make sure it would be the same size as other grand structures of the same era, Louvois had famous gardener Le Nôtre to surround the chateau with an immense French-style garden opening up to the surrounding landscape. Adding magnificent garden beds, lawns, fountains and statues, Louvois managed to turn Ancy-le-Franc into his own private Versailles.

The English-style garden:
In 1759 the heir of the Marquis de Louvois, the Marquis de Courtanvaux, transformed the gardens into an English-style park. He had an artificial lake dug out at the south side of the building, with a little romantic island where he had a small pavilion built, in an octagonal shape, to provide shelter for his idyllic leisure activities. This pavilion, known as 'La Folie', is an elegant testimony to the time period. It was the favourite spot of the owners in the 18th century, and a place where they loved to set off fireworks.

Chateau \| Park
Welcome History Architecture Decoration Halls Restorations Park		Park The chateau, located on the banks of the Burgundy Canal, is set in the centre of a magnificent park of 123 acres. Numerous streams and an immense pond offer a delicate charm in this space filled with greenery and relics of past times. The French-style garden: In 1684 when the Marquis de Louvois acquired the chateau, he set about to give it the character of a true Grand Siècle residence (referring to the Great Century in France, the 17th century). He ordered for relics of the medieval wall, on the north west side of the chateau, to be demolished, so as to open up the area for huge outbuildings arranged around two courtyards. To make sure it would be the same size as other grand structures of the same era, Louvois had famous gardener Le Nôtre to surround the chateau with an immense French-style garden opening up to the surrounding landscape. Adding magnificent garden beds, lawns, fountains and statues, Louvois managed to turn Ancy-le-Franc into his own private Versailles. The English-style garden: In 1759 the heir of the Marquis de Louvois, the Marquis de Courtanvaux, transformed the gardens into an English-style park. He had an artificial lake dug out at the south side of the building, with a little romantic island where he had a small pavilion built, in an octagonal shape, to provide shelter for his idyllic leisure activities. This pavilion, known as 'La Folie', is an elegant testimony to the time period. It was the favourite spot of the owners in the 18th century, and a place where they loved to set off fireworks.