Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Joinville's audience was built in 1561 by François de Guise and his mother Antoinette de Bourbon. He served as a high court of justice to administer seigneurial justice on behalf of the Prince, in the heart of the old town of Joinville, then located in the province of Champagne. This place symbolized the feudal judicial authority, combining legal functions and representation of the princely power.

Unlike many audiences of the time, this building survived the French Revolution, escaping destruction or sale as a national good. Disused after the abolition of seigneurial institutions, it was preserved until its restoration from 1983, initiated by the association Sauveau du Patrimoine and Michel Lapasset, professor of history and geography. The works brought the monument back to life.

Today, the audience is home to life-size historical reconstructions, such as the bailliage court, the chamber of Claude de Lorraine, or a 16th century funeral procession. It also offers exhibitions on justice and daily life under the Old Regime, illustrating the central role of the seigneury in social organization. The building, with its courtyards and dungeons, was listed at the Historic Monuments in 2025.

The visits highlight three facets of the Lords of Joinville: the Precious Knight, the Fastuous Prince of the Renaissance, and dynastic continuity throughout the centuries. Models, such as that of the city in 1650, and reconstructed scenes (kitchen, jails) plunge visitors into the legal and social atmosphere of the time.

The audience is part of a local heritage network, alongside the Grand Garden Castle and the Annonciades convent, demonstrating the historic importance of Joinville. Its history reflects the political changes, from seigneurial justice to modern justice, while preserving the memory of the princes of Lorraine and the Guise.

Future

Visits are organized, presenting the life of a small town under the Old Regime, the daily exercise of justice, up to the image of the feudal lord, under the triple aspect of the prious knight, the lavish prince of the Renaissance, and the continuity of his lineage throughout the centuries.

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