Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Loyes, located in Villieu-Loyes-Mollon in Ain, finds its origins on a 11th century castral motte, later replaced by a strong house. In the 18th century, Gabriel Dervieu de Villieu, Baron de Loyes, erected a new castle using the old fortifications of the village. This building, of classic style, is marked by lateral towers and a central body, but is subjected to a fire in 1795 that changes its appearance: the pointed roofs are replaced by a flat roof, and the towers are shortened.

In the 19th century, the Baboin family, silky Lyonnais, acquired the castle in 1850 and undertook important works. The communes are rebuilt, a wing is added to the east by architect Charles Roux-Meulien, and an imposing neogothic enclosure is erected, including crenellated towers, a Gothic vault and a statue of Jeanne d'Arc. The park, partly inspired by the drawings of André Le Nôtre, is renovated with French-style aisles, a basin and various species (dilden, chestnut trees, cedar trees).

The site preserves medieval remains, such as the feudal motte (or "poype"), as well as elements of the former fortifications reused in the south facade of the castle. Partially listed as historical monuments in 2008, the estate also includes an outdoor chapel, a historic vegetable garden and a viewpoint bridge. The castle thus illustrates a superposition of architectural styles, from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, reflecting its evolution throughout the centuries.

Among the personalities related to the castle, André Le Nôtre and his successor Claude Desgot are associated with the design of the gardens, although this attribution is partly based on an oral tradition of the 19th century. Henri Baboin, MP and Mayor of Loyes, marks the estate by his neo-Gothic arrangements, while Paul Jean Pierre Sauzet, politician and brother-in-law of Aimé Baboin, regularly stays there.

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