CASTLE OF GRAND COURT AND ITS GARDENS

"the castle, as it is currently presented, is located to one kilometer of the borough of Mornay-Berry. It was probably built in the middle of the XIII th century. One can think that it played an important part during the war of Hundred-Years, because of its position within a line of strong houses separating Berry and Nevernais,that are French and anglo-Burgundian possessions. A circular plaform with 40 m in diameter, relatively low and surrounded of ditches of ten meters of width, offers the characteristics of this type of fortification in the XIIth and XIIIth centuries. acts as foundation to a very well preserved defensive wall, of which it is necessary to underline the originality of the form: a polygon with 17 flaps without towers, near to the circle. It is a remarkable French example of " shell fortress ". The existence of a polygonal enclosure without towers, but with a tower-gate, makes of this castle an important witness of the French art of warfare in the XIIIth century... ".

Three gardens of medieval inspiration are used as a setting to the castle: - the closed garden: its old roses and its water sretch;
- the vegetable garden;
- the garden of the mound: raised racks, medieval and aromatic plants.