Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Ratilly, located on a nipple overlooking the valley of the Vrille in the Yonne, follows a typical 13th century Philippian plan: a six tower enclosure delimits a rectangular courtyard, with two towers surrounding a drawbridge. The ensemble, lined with moat today dried up, was modified during the Renaissance with the addition of chimneys, windows in the towers, and the transformation of a tower into a dovecote. Two closed orchards planted in the 19th century border the access aisle.

The first building, dated the 11th century, would have been destroyed during feudal wars. The present castle was built around 1270 by Mathieu de Ratilly. In the 14th century, during the Hundred Years' War, it housed a gang of looters. It became a Huguenot den in 1567 and was restored in 1587 by Mary du Puy, whose heirs received the Great Mademoiselle there in 1653. The estate, several times sold, was acquired in 1951 by Jeanne and Norbert Pierlot, who installed a pottery workshop and a contemporary art centre.

Ranked a historical monument in 1983 for its facades, roofs and the fireplace of the Salle des Gardes, the castle illustrates the medieval and reborn architectural evolution. Close to the Seine-Loire water divide, it is 12 km from Saint-Fargeau and 22 km from the Loire Valley. Its history reflects the religious conflicts and social transformations of Puisaye, between feudality and modern times.

In the 19th century, Charles-Louis Vivien dried the moats and planted the orchards still visible today. The castle, open to the public, combines historical heritage and contemporary artistic creation, perpetuating a tradition of hospitality and innovation initiated in the 16th century.

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