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Origin and history

The castle of Frescaty, also called the castle of the bishops of Metz, was built at the beginning of the eighteenth century (circa 1710-1714) on the commune of Moulins-lès-Metz, near Metz. Commanded by Bishop Henri-Charles de Coislin, he was inspired by Italian villas such as Villa Aldobrandini de Frascati, hence his name. His gardens, compared to those of Versailles for their rich waters, ponds and sculptures, made it a prestigious place. The castle served as a summer residence, with a library of 12,000 volumes and a collection of paintings, including one attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.

The estate reached its peak between 1712 and 1732 under Coislin, welcoming personalities like Marie Leszczynska (future queen of France) in 1728. After his death, the castle passed to Claude de Saint-Simon (1733-1760), then to Louis Montmorency-Laval, who sold it in 1786. The French Revolution sealed its decline: sold to a mason, it was partially dismantled for its stones, and a fire in 1793 completed its destruction. The outbuildings served as a military hospital for two years.

In the 19th century, the Bouchotte family built a second castle on the ruins of the first, using the remaining stones. This new building was the site of the French capitulation in 1870. In the 20th century, the site became a German air base (from 1909), then French (Base Aerien 128), after its almost total destruction in 1945. Today, its route can still be superimposed on the current landscape, revealing the partial conservation of the high gardens and the large canal.

The gardens of Frescaty, designed to highlight the view of Metz and the Moselle, were organized into terraces, basins and theatre alleys. The engravings of Le Rouge and the plans of Robert de Cotte allow a faithful restitution of their splendour. The northern parterre, inspired by Marly, and the south terraces with their circular basin offered great perspectives. The castle itself, modest in size, was dedicated to summer receptions, with richly decorated rooms, such as the 'room of strangers' with a royal portrait estimated at 3,000 pounds.

The architecture of the castle reflected the style of the early 18th century, similar to that of Orly, with a main façade of sixteen windows and a marble parron of Verona. The gardens, designed on a flat site with an unobstructed view to the north, incorporated natural elements such as the hillside of Fristo. Their layout was designed to create a dialogue between art and landscape, with water games, statues (some of which remain in private properties) and calculated perspectives to enhance the surrounding countryside.

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