Discover our history...
In the Middle Ages, owned by the Monks of Charity, the forest and the spring provided the first resources for activities at Domaine de la Vache.
About 500 meters west of the spring, the first buildings appeared. The first tower (15th century) houses the staircase of the manor house, home to the milling families who succeeded each other between 1470 and 1710 (fulling mill, then wheat mill). Energy was provided by capturing the stream, which changes direction at this point, passes under the stone bridge, and heads north towards Raveau.
The various buildings in the hamlet of La Vache found a new purpose in the 17th century with the creation of a blast furnace.
This activity developed under the leadership of Babaud de la Chaussade, Grand Clerk of the King and Ironmaster of Guérigny and La Vache. The iron ore from Bertranges, the best in France according to Colbert, was brought to the great hall along with firewood and thrown into the blast furnace, activated by a hydraulically powered blower, from which it emerged as incandescent cast iron in the casting hall, arranged in the axis of the blast furnace.
The smelting waste, called slag, bears witness to two centuries of activity at the La Vache blast furnace, which employed up to a hundred workers.
The cast iron could be processed on site, at the Forge, or in Guérigny at the great royal forges. These forges mainly produced anchors, rivets, chains, timber nails, and cables for the Royal Navy.
During the Revolution, the industrial site was nationalized; the plans of the Domaine des Forges de la Vache are displayed at the Musée de la Marine in Paris, as they remain today. The steel industry ceased in 1848.
At the end of the 19th century, the hamlet became a hunting lodge, with its stables and kennels. From 1920 onwards, the buildings were used for farming.
From 1995 onwards, the estate became a cultural venue with sculpture exhibitions and classical music concerts.
This historic site had already lived several lives when, in 2021, a new owner decided to revive it as a magnificent eco-tourist resort offering several types of accommodation.
After three years of construction, the Domaine des Forges de la Vache will open its doors in spring 2024.
About 500 meters west of the spring, the first buildings appeared. The first tower (15th century) houses the staircase of the manor house, home to the milling families who succeeded each other between 1470 and 1710 (fulling mill, then wheat mill). Energy was provided by capturing the stream, which changes direction at this point, passes under the stone bridge, and heads north towards Raveau.
The various buildings in the hamlet of La Vache found a new purpose in the 17th century with the creation of a blast furnace.
This activity developed under the leadership of Babaud de la Chaussade, Grand Clerk of the King and Ironmaster of Guérigny and La Vache. The iron ore from Bertranges, the best in France according to Colbert, was brought to the great hall along with firewood and thrown into the blast furnace, activated by a hydraulically powered blower, from which it emerged as incandescent cast iron in the casting hall, arranged in the axis of the blast furnace.
The smelting waste, called slag, bears witness to two centuries of activity at the La Vache blast furnace, which employed up to a hundred workers.
The cast iron could be processed on site, at the Forge, or in Guérigny at the great royal forges. These forges mainly produced anchors, rivets, chains, timber nails, and cables for the Royal Navy.
During the Revolution, the industrial site was nationalized; the plans of the Domaine des Forges de la Vache are displayed at the Musée de la Marine in Paris, as they remain today. The steel industry ceased in 1848.
At the end of the 19th century, the hamlet became a hunting lodge, with its stables and kennels. From 1920 onwards, the buildings were used for farming.
From 1995 onwards, the estate became a cultural venue with sculpture exhibitions and classical music concerts.
This historic site had already lived several lives when, in 2021, a new owner decided to revive it as a magnificent eco-tourist resort offering several types of accommodation.
After three years of construction, the Domaine des Forges de la Vache will open its doors in spring 2024.
