Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Ognon, mentioned since 1197 as a property of Barthélemy of Ognon, was originally a medieval mansion surrounded by woods and farmland. Over the centuries, it became a prestigious seigneury, passing into the hands of influential families such as the La Fontaine (XV-17th centuries), who received kings like Louis XII and François I. The latter, close to the court, embellished the estate with beds, statues and a pond, while occupying royal offices as Grand Master of ceremonies or ambassador.

In the seventeenth century, Maximilian Titon, a supplier of weapons to Louis XIV, acquired the castle in ruins and undertook major restoration work. He enlarged the park, created a water mirror and garden factories, perhaps inspired by plans by André Le Nôtre, close to his Parisian court. The Titons, enriched by the arms monopoly, transformed Ognon into a jewel of French gardens, with statues attributed to Guillaume Berthelot and perspectives inspired by Versailles. Their financial decline in the 18th century led to the sale of the estate in 1806.

The 19th century saw the castle change of hands several times, passing from the Caix de Saint-Aymour – which left it to abandon – to the banker Charles Amédée Demachy. The latter had the existing buildings razed to build a neo-renaissance castle and an English park, designed by landscape architect Louis-Sulpice Varé. World wars severely damaged the estate: occupied by troops, transformed into a field hospital, and demolished in 1957. Today, only the park, classified as a historic monument in 1990, and some outbuildings such as orangery and commons remain.

Ognon Park, extending over 70 hectares, is a rare testimony to the evolution of French gardens. It preserves elements from the 17th and 18th centuries, such as the water mirror with bevelled angles, the gloriettes inspired by Solomon of Brush, or the statues of the Four Vertus and the Four Parties of the world. The green room, attributed to Le Nôtre, and the romantic factories (false ruin, pier) illustrate the transitions between classicism and picturesque. The statues, some of which come from gifts from Marie de Médicis, offer a panorama of French sculpture from 1620 to 1750.

The protection of the site began in 1943 with an inscription under the title of natural sites, supplemented in 1990 by the classification of remarkable elements (park, basins, statues, factories). Although the castle has disappeared, its location remains visible, and the park, although private, opens exceptionally during Heritage Days. Historical research, such as that of Marguerite Charageat or Raymond Poussard, underlines its importance in the art of gardens and its link with major figures in the history of France.

External links