Logo Musée du Patrimoine

All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

Château de la Grange en Charente-Maritime

Charente-Maritime

Château de la Grange


    Saint-Jean-d'Angély

Timeline

Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1100
1200
1700
1800
1900
2000
1106
First entry
1701
Acquisition by Gomé des Hazards
1731
Reconstruction of the castle
1752
Sale to Fouquet
1803
Acquisition by Bertier
1912-1919
Post-First War Sale and Purchase
1950
Start of restorations
1984
Historical monument classification
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Key figures

Robert de Cotte - Architect Designed the plans of the castle in 1731.
Brice Gomé des Hazards - Owner Buyer in 1701, reconstructive family.
Christophe Gomé des Hazards - Rebuilder Son of Brice, built the castle.
Fouquet - Owner in 1752 The noble acquiring family of the estate.
Jean de Bertier de Sauvigny - Former Mayor of Manom Owner and local politician.
Franck Neau - Landscape Creator of the Prairial Garden.
Casanova - Picture visitor Stayed at the castle.
Colonel de Gaulle - Picture visitor Bused the estate.

Origin and history

The castle of La Grange, located in Manom en Moselle (Great East region), is mentioned from 1106 under the name of Scura. It belonged to several noble families, including the La Grange, Solouvres, Chinery, Brandenburg and Argenteau, before being acquired in 1701 by Brice Gomé des Hazards. Ruined during the Thirty Years' War, it was rebuilt from 1731 by Christophe Gomé des Hazards, according to the plans of architect Robert de Cotte. Sold in 1752 to Fouquet, then to Bertier's family in 1803, the castle and its estate remained in this last line for more than 250 years, despite historical upheavals, including the Alsatian-Lorraine annexation of 1871.

Ranked a historic monument in 1984, the castle preserves medieval remains such as moat and part of the cellars, while its current structure dates back to the 18th century. The entrance is made by three bridges, a drawbridge and cart doors, leading to a cobbled bassyard. The facades are decorated with sculptures, coat of arms (Fouquet, Bertier de Sauvigny, Selancy) and decorative elements. Inside, classified rooms, such as the glazed library (old chapel), the red living room or the Empire room, house furniture and art objects from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The park, redesigned by landscaper Franck Neau, houses the Jardin des Prairiales, famous for its flowery meadows, boxwood collections and lilies. This contemporary garden replaces the old classical garden and integrates into the network Gardens without Limits. The estate also includes historical outbuildings (pigeon, farm, stables) and classified architectural elements, such as terraces, stairs and stone sculptures (lions, chimeras). Occupied and damaged during the two world wars, the castle has been restored since 1950 and opened to the public.

Famous visitors include Casanova, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Colonel de Gaulle. The castle also served as a residence for Jean de Bertier de Sauvigny, Mayor of Manom and General Councillor of the Moselle after 1919. The former names of the domain (Scheuren, La Grange-ès-Luxembourk) reflect its centuries-old history, linked to local dynasties and border conflicts.

Today, the castle of La Grange combines architectural heritage, securities collections and floral landscapes, testifying to its evolution from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era. Its ranking and its openness to the public make it a major site of the Lorraine heritage, marked by French, Luxembourgish and German influences.

External links