Logo Musée du Patrimoine

All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

Château du Fey à Villecien dans l'Yonne

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine défensif
Demeure seigneuriale
Château de style Classique
Yonne

Château du Fey

    164 Le Château du Fey
    89300 Villecien
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Château du Fey
Crédit photo : Convivial94 - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
1620
Construction of the second castle
XVIe siècle
Construction of the first castle
1973
Registration for Historic Monuments
1988
Creation of the La Varenne school
2007
Closure of the culinary school
2017
Ecological preservation project
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The facades and roofs including those of the communes (excluding the farm) , the following rooms with their decoration: the living room, the dining room, the bedroom and the small bedroom on the ground floor known as Ninon de Lenclos (Box DZ 630) : inscription by decree of 19 December 1973

Key figures

Nicolas Hennequin - First Lord of the Fey Builder of the original castle (XVI century).
Nicolas de Baugy - Counsellor for Louis XIII Rebuilt the castle in 1620.
Isabelle du Fey - Domain Administrator Friend of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Saint Vincent de Paul - Priest and benefactor Prêcha in Villecien, linked to the estate.
Anne Willan - Founder of La Varenne Culinary school at the castle (1988-2007).
Jessica Flore Angel - Architect Ecological project since 2017.

Origin and history

The Château du Fey, located in Villecien in the Yonne, is a 17th century building built on the remains of a first 16th century castle erected by Nicolas Hennequin. In 1620 Nicolas de Baugy, counselor of Louis XIII, began the construction of a second castle while retaining elements of the old. The estate, dominated by a long forest driveway, includes converted barns and outbuildings, as evidenced by a 1751 plan.

The castle is closely linked to historical figures: Isabelle du Fey, administrator of the estate and close to Saint Vincent de Paul, who preached there several times. According to a local tradition, the chancellor of Agesseau and Ninon de Lenclos stayed there, with their portraits adorning the library. Two elements of the furniture, classified as Historic Monuments, are associated with Saint Vincent de Paul: the baptismal tank (15th century) and a Renaissance seat.

In the 20th century, the castle became a residential and cultural place. In the 1980s, Anne Willan founded an annex to her La Varenne culinary school, attracting renowned chefs until 2007. Since 2017, the architect Jessica Flore Angel has been running a project combining heritage preservation and ecological innovation, while enhancing the link between the castle and the forest of Othe, which is conducive to tourism activities.

The estate extends over 41 hectares, bordering the forest of Othe, a wooded massif between Sens, Troyes and Joigny, known for its hikes and natural heritage. The castle, inscribed in the Historic Monuments in 1973, protects its facades, roofs, and four interior rooms with their decor, including the bedroom of Ninon de Lenclos.

External links