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Origin and history

The castle of Goussaincourt, located in the eponymous village in the Grand Est region, finds its origins in a seigneury attested from the twelfth century, dependent on the chestnutry of Gondrecourt. The site initially housed a medieval castle, some of which defence elements of the 16th century still remain today, such as a scauguette, a armorial brace or rotula murderers. These remains recall the strategic role of the place before its transformation into a seigneurial residence.

The major reconstruction of the castle took place in 1663, a date worn on the building, under the impulse of Pierre La Fitte de Pellapore and his wife Anne de Chastenoy de Mandres. The new building adopts a parallepopedic plan, marked by a square tower at the southwest corner and a wing perpendicular to the north. The original structures, the enfilade distribution of the rooms, as well as the fireplaces and panellings of the 18th and 19th centuries, illustrate the architectural evolutions and the rural aristocratic way of life over centuries.

In the 18th century, the main façade on the park underwent notable changes: the old openings were replaced by segmental arched lintel windows spread over two levels. Despite these changes, the west facade on the garden side retains some 17th century elements. The estate, lined with a wall of enclosure including a dovecote, also includes remarkable outbuildings, such as a vaulted hall on square pillars. The monumental entrance, in Tuscan style, highlights the prestige of the seigneury.

Listed as a Historic Monument in 2009, the Goussaincourt Castle is fully protected, including its gardens and its enclosure wall (excluding washbasin). Its hybrid architecture, blending medieval heritage and 17th and 18th century amenities, makes it a significant example of the noble residences of Lorraine, adapted to the uses and tastes of the peasant gentlemen throughout the eras.

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