Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil is a 14th-century castle built on the grounds of an earlier 12th century castle in Ainay-le-Vieil, Cher, France. Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil is situated at an elevation of 168 meters. After having bought the castle from Jacques Cœur, Charles de Bigny built a pre-Renaissance Louis XII style chateaux from 1500 to 1505. The castle has been listed as a Monument historique since 1968 by the French Ministry of Culture. The castle, now part of Jacques Cœur's tourist route, has been nicknamed "the little Carcassonne" (French: le petit Carcassonne) because of its circular shape. Today the castle is one of the best preserved fortresses of the 14th century.
The castle is built on a site located on the frontier of the Frankish kingdom and that of Aquitaine (and later the lands of the French and English kingdoms) that has been fortified since the High Middle Ages and was once occupied by the Gallo-Romans. This location was thus strategically important, especially during the Hundred Years' War, and this can be attested to by its sizeable walls. Because of its importance to the French Kings, it was entrusted to houses close to the King, such as the Bourbons, Barres, Sully, and Culants.
The castle property is mentioned in a cartulary in Champagne at the end of the 11th century, naming a member of the House of Bourbon (rulers of Bourbonnais) and a brother of Charles Martel. It then passed into the ownership of Pierre Barres and his brother, Guillaume, who won fame for their family by saving the French king at the Battle of Bouvines in 1214. Next, the Sully family, of the Loire Valley, came into possession of the castle for over a century in a period wherein the castle became an important base from which to harass the English during the Hundred Years' War. After the French defeat at Poitiers in 1356, it became the only castle in the region to remain in French hands. Similarly, it lost all military importance with the French victory at the end of the Hundred Years' War.
Since 1467, the castle has been owned by the family of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, minister to the King, and it passed through the women of the family three generations in.

Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil

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Meillant is a Late Medieval castle located in the old province of Berry. It is characterised by its Late Gothic (Flamboyant) style.
History
Charles II of Amboise, a chief figure in the history of Meillant
The oldest part of the castle was started by Count Étienne II de Sancerre in the late 13th and early 14th century. Dying heirless in 1308, the castle passes to the Bueil family, then by marriage to the Amboise familly in 1438.
Most of the present structure was erected from 1473 by Charles I of Amboise, chamberlain and counselor of King Louis XI. His son, Charles II d'Amboise de Chaumont, one of the king's favourite, became Grand Master of France, Marshal then Admiral. He also served as governor of Paris, Milan and Genoa, and Lieutenant general of Lombardy. The money that he subtracted from his government in Milan prompted Cardinal Dovizi da Bibbiena to say that "Milan made Meillant".
After Charles's death in 1511, the property is inherited by his son, George, who dies childless at the Battle of Pavia in 1525. Meillant then passes through a succession of proprietors. Among them are the Dukes of Béthune-Chârost. The 6th and last duke, Armand II Joseph (1738–1800) was known for his philanthropy. He would launch the project for the Canal de Berry joining the Loire to the Cher River. The duke was so adulated by his people that, during the French Revolution, when he was emprisoned and ready to be sent to the guillotine in Paris, the population of Meillant rose to demand his liberation. This is in part why the castle wasn't damaged during the revolution.
In 1857, the castle winds up into the hands of Casimir de Rochechouart, Duke of Mortemart. His descendants still occupy the castle today. Descended from the Viscounts of Limoges, the House of Rochechouart of Mortemart is one of the oldest aristocratic families in France.
Description
The castle is composed of 90 rooms, the most sumptuous of which are open to the public. The main drawing room spreads on 200 m² (2150 ft²) and has a loggia for musicians above the central fireplace. Also of interest are the valuable tapestries from Bruges.
https://www.eupedia.com/france/meillant_castle.shtml

Château de Meillant

The Château de Culan is a French medieval castle located in the commune of Culan in the Cher département.
History
The castle, listed as a monument historique at the start of the 20th century and classified for its walls and roofs in 1956, has known a turbulent history. It is built on a rocky outcrop dominating the River Arnon (a site naturel classé - classified natural site). The first wooden construction, of which nothing remains, was demolished in the 10th century. A second building was besieged and destroyed by King Philip II Augustus of France (1188), then at war with Henry II Plantagenet, king of England. The present castle dates from the 12th century until the 15th century, with additions from the Renaissance.
It has belonged, among the others, to Admiral Louis de Culant (1360 – 1444), to Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully (1599 – 1621), and later the Prince de Condé. In 1651, during the Fronde, Mazarin laid siege to the town with royal troops and destroyed the 15th century ramparts. During the Revolution, the castle lands were shared among several families and the fortress was sold as national property.
The castle received several famous visitors: Joan of Arc, Louis XI, Sully, Madame de Sévigné, the novelist George Sand and Ernest Renan. General Charles de Gaulle, visiting Saint-Amand-Montrond after the war, preferred to sleep in a private house in the Rue de l'Église.
After he retired from teaching in 1926, the French Hellenist Philippe-Ernest Legrand (1866–1953) settled in the château where he spent the rest of his life.
Today
The Château de Culan is in excellent condition. It was restored between 1950 and 1980 by an earlier owner, Jean Ferragut, who organised exhibitions there (Pablo Picasso, Bernard Buffet, Flemish tapestries, etc.) The castle still has wooden turrets which allowed stones and other projectiles to be thrown down onto attackers. The castle has beautiful monumental fireplaces from the 15th century. Around the castle, at the end of the 20th century, 'medieval gardens' were laid out.
The present owners, Jean Pierre Marquis and Edouard Marquis (father and son), are continuing the work of restoration and preservation.
The castle is open to visitors every day from Easter to the end of October. Medieval weekends are organised in July and August as well as torchlight tours on some summer evenings.