Ainay-le-Vieil - Saint-Martin

The parish church of Saint-Martin was erected in Ainay within the late 12th and the 13th century, strongly supported for sure by the Capetians / Bourbons, who at that time owned the castle here.

This castle changed hands a couple of times and for some decades was owned by Jacques Cœur, one of the most remarkable merchants in medieval Europe and "finance minister" ("l’argentier") of Charles VII (aka "Charles le Bien Servi" = "Charles the Well-Served"). In 1467 it was acquired by Charles de Chevenon, seigneur de Bigny, whose descendents still live here, though they may not use the "side chapel" added to the church for the noble family within the 16th century.