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Origin and history

The mansion of Andigny, located in Saint-Étienne-de-Chigny (Indre-et-Loire), is a 15th and 16th century building originally linked to the seigneury of Bossay. Originally, the fief belonged to the Archdiocese of Tours and the chestnutry of Bossay. The land was sold by Jean de Menou to the family of Angrie, who later became the family of Andigné, although the estate remained under the suzerainety of Bossay despite attempts to emancipate.

In the 15th century, the mansion passed into the hands of the Binet family, of which Jacques Binet, governor of the Château de Tours, was one of the owners. In 1534, a judgment confirmed that the land of Andigny still depended on Boussay. The manor house, partially inscribed in the historical monuments in 1992, retains remarkable elements such as a fireplace decorated with a fresco depicting the landing of Saint Martha, as well as a troglodytic chapel.

Architecturally, the manor house consists of two bodies of adjoining houses, with a facade remodeled in the 20th century. A spiral staircase leads to a large ornate fireplace, while another, on the ground floor, carries a 16th century inscription. The estate once included a well, a fountain and a runaway, as evidenced by a 1756 plan. The chapel, carved in the rock, has a facade decorated with 16th century motifs.

Notable owners include Claude de L'Aubespine, Baron de Châteauneuf and Secretary of State under several kings of France, as well as various members of the families of Andigné and Binet. These seigneurs enjoyed privileges, such as the right to a bench in the church of Saint-Étienne, reflecting their social status at the time.

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