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Origin and history

The castle of Linchamps, located on a rocky spur overlooking the Semoy near the hamlet of Nohan (Commune of Thilay, Ardennes), is a medieval fortress dating back to the 12th and 16th centuries. Its ruins bear witness to a troubled past, marked by successive reconstructions and violent destruction, reflecting the geopolitical tensions of the region, on the border between the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire.

The first reliable mention of the castle dates from the beginning of the sixteenth century, when Jean de Louvain, lord of Rognac, erected a fortress there between 1530 and 1535. This controversial figure, former page of King Francis I, uses the castle as a base for ransoming travelers and looting neighbouring villages, including Braux, Levrezy, and Nouzonville. The site, originally owned by the Collégiale de Braux, was reportedly acquired by the family of Leuven under troubled circumstances, mixing tricky and force.

In 1550, the castle was besieged and destroyed by the troops of Henry II after a series of abuses committed by Rognac and his men, described as "banished and petty scoundrels". Despite its strength and impressive defences, the fortress was razed on royal order to calm tensions with Emperor Charles Quint. However, it was rebuilt in 1554 by François de Clèves and strengthened by Henri de Lorraine, Duke of Guise, between 1585 and 1589.

The castle changed hands several times in the 17th century, passing between the French and Spanish royalties during border conflicts. In 1629 Louis XIII became its owner, but Linchamps remained a strategic issue. In 1650, he was taken by the slinger M. de Ligniville, allied with Spain, before being taken over by Condé in 1653. The Treaty of Paris (1659) finally returned it to France, but Vauban, in his policy of "pre-square", ordered its destruction by mine in 1673 to rationalize the defensive system of the kingdom.

Today, the site presents itself as a rocky spur invaded by vegetation, dotted with barely discernable remains: collapsed walls, stairs cut into the rock, and a cavity called a "spun bench", linked to a local legend. The latter evokes the ghost of a chestnut running at night, a melancholic symbol of the disappearance of the castle. The ruins, though disfigured, recall the strategic importance of Linchamps, lock of the Semoy valley.

Archaeological excavations and historical studies are sorely lacking, leaving many shades on the evolution of the site before the 16th century. Written sources, such as the letters of Henri II or Vauban, as well as local chronicles, remain the main evidence of his turbulent history, between noble banditry, dynasty conflicts and military issues.

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