Château d'Ognon, Renaissance castle in Villers-Saint-Frambourg-Ognon, France
The Château d'Ognon is a castle featuring extensive terraced gardens with water features, stone staircases, and decorative gloriettes distributed across multiple levels of the property. The overall layout displays the generous design of a historic estate with functionally organized garden spaces.
The estate is first recorded in 1197 under Barthélemy d'Ognon and received King François I in 1526 for hunting activities during Jean de La Fontaine's ownership. These royal visits emphasized the site's importance as a prestigious hunting ground.
The garden statues depict the Four Parts of the World and different Seasons, showcasing artistic tastes of 17th and 18th-century French nobility. These sculptural works give visitors insight into the intellectual and aesthetic interests of that period.
The park opens to visitors during Heritage Days in September, allowing access to the grounds and remaining architectural features of the former estate. Plan your visit for this special period when the location is open to the public.
The original castle was demolished in 1957, yet the park retained its historical layout with a water mirror and ornamental features designed by renowned landscape architects. The preservation of the gardens despite the loss of the main building demonstrates the value placed on these green spaces.
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