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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Cigogne, located in La Fermeté in the Nièvre department, is a former strong house whose most notable remains date back to the 15th century. Today, it consists of a revamped medieval tower, a turret flanked by a Renaissance-style staircase and a stretch, as well as a bourgeois building. The lintels of the windows, carved and decorated with storks, recall the name of the domain and add a rare decorative touch for this type of defensive building. The site, partly listed as historical monuments since 1932, illustrates the architectural evolution between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Nivernais.

In 1349, the fief of Cigogne was mentioned as belonging to Louis de Mary, squire, son of Dreux de Marie, knight and lord of Mary, Cigoignes and Sency. From the 15th to the 17th century, the Bolacre family owned it and included influential figures from the Nivernais: a brigandier of the Comtal army, a president of the Nevers Chamber of Accounts, a lieutenant general at the bailliage and a king's attorney. These personalities reflect the strategic and administrative importance of the field during this period, linked to the local nobility and judicial institutions.

In the 17th century, the castle passed through alliance with the Marquis de Rémigny de Joux, lords of Dumphlun (Billy-Chevannes), whose descendants were still owners on the eve of the French Revolution in 1789. The partial inscription to the historical monuments in 1932 specifically concerns the entrance of the castle, the 15th century tower and the staircase turret with its steeple. These protected elements underscore the heritage value of a building that has passed through the times, marked by transformations and hand changes among the Nunavut aristocracy.

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