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Origin and history

The Château de Ragny, located in Savigny-en-Terre-Plaine in Yonne, finds its origins in the 12th century as a feudal fortress of Ragny's sires, vassals of the seigneurs of Montreal. This small original castle, of which only a gallery with arcades remains, was strengthened in the 15th century and became the main fief of the Ragny family. His history is marked by matrimonial alliances and architectural transformations, notably under Claude de Ragny, close to Louis XII, then under the Magdelaine, who built in Marquisat in 1597 as a reward for their loyalty to Henry IV.

In the 17th century, François de la Magdelaine, the first Marquis de Ragny and Marshal de Camp, undertook important work of beautification, transforming the castle and its park until his death in 1626. The estate then passed to the Créquy de Lesdiguières, then to the Neufville de Villeroy, before being acquired in 1717 by the parliamentarian Guy Chartraire de Saint-Agnan. His descendants kept him until 1812, when part of the buildings (orangery, towers) were destroyed and the estate fragmented.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the castle changed hands several times: bought by the Bank of Algeria in 1960, then by the Bank of France in 1974, it became a holiday centre until its final closure in October 2021. Today, the castle, surrounded by moat and a French park, offers accommodation and spaces for seminars or events, while preserving medieval elements such as a tower dated 1530 and the remains of its chapel founded in 1422.

The current, irregular and extensive architecture reflects the successive changes: a body of backed houses, round turrets, and a court of honor accessible by a dormant bridge. The estate also includes modern amenities (pool, tennis) added during its use as a holiday centre. The primitive castle, flanked by 11 towers including a square dungeon, was partially demolished during the Revolution.

The archives mention missing towers such as the Tower Hall, the Tower of Marsigny, or the Tower of the Wolf, testifying to its strategic importance in the 14th and 15th centuries. Despite the destruction, the site remains a remarkable example of the transition between medieval fortress and seigneurial residence, marked by the influence of the great Burgundy families.

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