Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Antigny, located in Foissy in the Gold Coast, finds its origins in the twelfth century, with remains like a quadrangular tower and thick walls on the northeast side. The present building, in the shape of a diamond, includes a round 15th century tower with mâchicoulis, a house body from the 17th (1624), and 18th century developments such as stables converted to chapel. The estate, lined with symmetric groves and gardens divided into six grassed beds, extends over nearly 5 hectares, including orchards and farmhouses transformed into rentals.

The seigneurial history of the castle began in 1116 with Eudes, Viscount de Beaune, followed by the families of Antigny, Montagu and Montbéliard in the 13th century. In the 15th century, the castle passed into the hands of the Noyers, La Tremeille, and Vergy, before being confiscated in 1477 by Louis XI to Claude de Toullongeon, supporter of Marie de Bourgogne. The Damascus, Marquis d'Antigny from 1654 onwards, remained the owners until 1803, a period marked by architectural transformations and noble alliances, such as the Vienna and Chastellux.

In the 19th century, the castle changed hands frequently, falling into disuse until its acquisition in 1923 by American art historian Royall Tyler and his wife Elisina. The couple restored the estate, welcoming intellectuals like Edith Wharton and preserving the castle during the Second World War thanks to the audacity of Elisina, who avoided its requisition by the Germans. Ranked a historic monument in 1993, the castle, still owned by the descendants Tyler, combines medieval heritage and modernity, with richly furnished interiors and technical equipment added over the centuries.

Architecturally, the castle blends defensive elements (the porch tower, courtines) with refined living spaces, such as the large living room with its monumental fireplace of 1680 or the library where Royall Tyler wrote. The gardens, arranged in French, and the outbuildings (metairies, orchards) testify to its evolution from a feudal fortress to an aristocratic residence, then to an intellectual resort. Byzantine objects collected by Tyler and traces of Edith Wharton add a unique cultural dimension to the site.

Among the notable anecdotes, the castle served as a refuge for an allied airman during the war, hidden and then exfiled by the Tyler driver, Henry Clark Smith. The Tylers also modernized the home with pioneering equipment for the period (telephone in 1923, multimedia), while retaining historical elements such as a 19th-century foot tub. Today, although not open to visits, the castle is rented for stays, perpetuating its role as a place of memory and conviviality.

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