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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Bonnay, located in the village of the same name in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, is an emblematic building of the 1st quarter of the 18th century. Reconstructed in 1712 on the ruins of a strong pre-existing house, it embodies the aristocratic architecture of the time, with a body of rectangular houses flanked by two wings and surrounded by a wall of enclosure punctuated by four circular towers. Its park, originally designed in French, was transformed into an English garden in 1827, reflecting the evolution of landscape tastes in the 19th century.

The castle belonged for centuries to the family of Buyer, who owned it since the 18th century. In 1970, Dominique de Buyer, the last noble heiress, gave the residential part to Monsieur and Madame Jacquet, while the old farm was acquired by Monsieur and Madame André. After Mr. Jacquet's death in 1983, his widow sold the castle in 1988 to Mrs. Pollock. Ranked a historic monument in 1994 (after a first inscription in 1975), the building retains notable interior decorations, including four Louis XIV chimneys.

The architecture of the castle is distinguished by its three-storey main building, comprising fifteen rooms, and its defensive elements like the conical towers. Inside, the Louis XVI decorations and the Louis XIV fireplaces testify to the refinement of its former occupants. The site, including the farm, fence walls and gates, is protected as historical monuments, highlighting its heritage importance in the Doubs department.

Today, Bonnay Castle remains a testament to local history and the evolution of architectural styles, from its reconstruction in the early eighteenth century to its subsequent transformations. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments in 1994 guarantees the preservation of this heritage, while offering an overview of the aristocratic life in Franche-Comté throughout the eras.

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