Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The fortified house of Barisey was erected at the end of the 13th century by Simonin de Barisey, bailli of Brixey and vassal of the bishop of Toul. This monument, of trapezoidal plan, was initially flanked by four towers (three circulars and a semicircular) connected by courtines of 70 to 115 meters. Today, only the east and west towers, fragments of courtines, and buildings transformed into farms remain. The east tower, 8-9 meters high, retains three levels of windows, while the west tower, reduced to 4-5 meters, has more than one.

The access to the courtyard was provided by a gate in the middle of the southwest courtyard, equipped with a drawbridge and a pedestrian door, all topped by mâchicoulis worn by stone consoles. These defensive developments reflect the strategic importance of the site, typical of medieval strong houses designed to protect local lords and their lands.

The seigneury of Barisey-au-Plain remained in the hands of Barisey's family throughout the Middle Ages. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the family of the Armoises, lords of Richardmenil, became partially owner, before the castle passed to the family of Silly in the 18th century. These hand changes illustrate the political and social changes in the region, marked by the influence of noble and ecclesiastical families (such as the Bishop of Toul).

The current, though fragmentary, remains offer a rare testimony to the civil military architecture of Toulois. Local studies, notably those of Sébastien Jeandemange (2004), highlight his role in the network of fortified sites of the region, linked to the protection of communication axes and episcopal lands.

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