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Origin and history

The castle of Montcornet is a medieval fortress built between the 11th and 12th centuries on a rocky spur overlooking the valley, probably occupied since Prehistory. Excavations revealed that the castrum dates back to the beginning of feudalism, with remains attesting to an ancient occupation. The first known lords, the family of Montcornet, lived there before the fortress passed into the hands of the Noyers, then of the Mellos in the 13th and 14th centuries.

In 1443, the castle was sold to the Count of Nevers, then bought in 1446 by Antoine de Croÿ, chamberlain of Philippe III of Burgundy. The latter thoroughly modernises it to resist firearms, adding cannon guns, bastion towers and a sparrow (rare defensive casemate). The Croÿ, close advisers of the Dukes of Burgundy, thus transformed the castle into a strong place adapted to the nascent artillery.

In the 17th century, Charles de Gonzague, prince of Arches and founder of Charleville, acquired the castle. He then went to The Meilleraye, then to the Duke of Aiguillon, who dismantled him in 1766. The ruins were saved in the 20th century by Abbé Bernard Lussigny (1961), then by the association Les Amis de Montcornet since 2009. The excavations revealed objects (currency, pottery, pellets) exhibited on site.

The architecture of the castle illustrates the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, with innovative defensive devices against cannons: thickening of walls, cannons, and bastioned towers. The barbacan and medieval dungeon, with a sparrow, bear witness to these adaptations. Jules Michelet found his inspiration there, calling him a "feudal Colosseum".

The remains, protected since 1926 as historical monuments, date mostly from the 15th and 16th centuries. The site, owned by an association, is visited and exhibits archaeological discoveries. Its history reflects the political and military stakes of the Ardennes, between Burgundy feudality and military modernization.

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