A masterpiece of the Renaissance
Built between 1541 and 1554 for the Count Antoine III de Clermont, the Château D’Ancy- le- France has managed to keep its architectural unity and purity of style throughout the years, as only two families ever owned the Château: the Clermont-Tonnerre and the Marquis de Louvois’ family (the Marquis de Louvois was a famous Minister under Louis the XIVth). The Château d’Ancy-le-Franc, one of Sebastiano Serlio’s - an Italian architect during the Renaissance - masterpieces, is a French construction said to be ‘in costume italiano’, thus making it extremely original for the time.
A unique journey through 5 centuries of History, the Château is home to many rare treasures, such as apartments richly decorated by the largest ensemble of Renaissance murals. The Château has been undergoing extensive renovation work since 1999 in order to restore it to its past glory.
Magnificent inner courtyard
It was built amidst a beautiful park of 50 hectares for Count Antoine III de Clermont. The magnificent inner courtyard is one of the architectural jewels here, a vast court very rich in ornamentations. The château is a perfect quadrilateral made up of 4 wings, each angle flanked with pavilions that are also square walls. A perfect symmetry and regularity is the hallmark of the castle. It contains one of the finest collections of mural paintings and frescoes from the 16th & 17th centuries.
Home to many events
The château is a very active place, where many events take place: visits of the château, exhibits, concert-visits, antique fairs, cooking classes…
As some of the pièces of furniture and décors are extremely fragile, the château can only be visited with a guide, at set times. In addition to the visits of the Château, once can aslo visit its park and enjoy wine or champagne tastings sessions.
Concert-visits are also organised once a month (from March to November), combining a special visit of the Château and a unique classical music concert showcasing young local talents. These concert-visits either take place in the “Salle des Gardes”, or, when the weather is nice enough, in the sumptuous “Cour d’Honneur” courtyard. 20€ a ticket, €15 for students and free for children Under 12.
The Château also organises cooking classes, where heritage and gastronomy intertwine. Judicaël Ruch, a highly talented chef, will teach you some of the Chefs’ best techniques and will help you cook dishes, which you’ll then enjoy eating in the newly renovated rooms of the Château, along with a selection of local wines. These classes are help year-round for groups (booking required) and three dates are also set aside for individuals. Choose from two different options: the “Gastronomic” and the “Privilege”, where, in addition to the cooking classes, you’ll benefit from a personalised greeting and an exclusive visit of the Château and the Park.
Last but not least, the Château can also be rented out for private events. Contact them for estimates of the rental costs associated with this exceptional setting.
Source : http://www.burgundyeye.com/attractions/chateau-dancy-le-franc-ancy-le-franc/
