Expansion by del Gabbio vers 1770 (≈ 1770)
Italian and French influences merged.
2e moitié du XVIIIe siècle
Initial construction
Initial construction 2e moitié du XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1850)
Seat of a rural farm until the 20th.
11 mai 2004
Registration Historic Monument
Registration Historic Monument 11 mai 2004 (≈ 2004)
Protection of the domain and its dependencies.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The estate as a whole: the castle (façades and roofs), the walled park with the pediment, the communes and the adjoining buildings, car shed, dovecote and the aisle of trees (see AY 1 to 4, 7 to 11, 19, 21): inscription by decree of 11 May 2004
Key figures
Michel-Ange del Gabbio - Architect
Author of expansion plans around 1770.
Origin and history
The Bigny estate, located in Feurs in the Loire, is a historical monument dating back to the second half of the 18th century. At that time, it served as the seat of a rural farm, a role it retained until the twentieth century. This area thus illustrates the evolution of the agricultural and architectural structures of Ligerian over more than two centuries, combining practical and aesthetic functions.
Around 1770, the Italian architect Michel-Ange del Gabbio proposed a project to expand the existing residence. Its plans incorporate typical Italian elements, such as the three ramped staircases or the triangular pediment adorning the central forebody, while maintaining French features inherited from local traditions, such as threads and alcoves. This fusion of styles marks a turning point in the history of architecture in the region at the end of the eighteenth century, reflecting the cultural exchanges between France and Italy.
The estate as a whole was listed in the Historical Monuments by order of 11 May 2004. This protection applies not only to the castle (facades and roofs), but also to the walled park, the communes, the adjoining buildings (remise à car, pigeonnier), as well as the aisle of trees. These elements demonstrate the heritage importance of the site, both for its architecture and for its spatial organization characteristic of the large rural estates of the time.
The exact address of the estate, according to the Mérimée base, is 9034 Bigny, 42110 Feurs, in the Loire department (region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). Although the practical information on the visits or services offered (room rental, guest rooms) is not specified in the available sources, its location is considered "a priori satisfactory" (note of 7/10), allowing a clear identification of the site.
