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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Castle of the Counts of Bryas is a building of the 4th quarter of the 17th century, built by the family of Bryas, lords of Fumay, on the remains of an ancient fort razed under Louis XIII. A vaulted room of this fort still remains under the current earth. This castle, of classic style, is distinguished by its brick facade enhanced with blue stone chains, a central triangular pediment, and violet slate roofs, typical of the region. Its side pavilions, covered with side domes and octagonal arrows, add to its architectural prestige. A historic road, accessible from the castle, formerly linked the miners to the sardoisière of the Moulin Sainte-Anne, testifying to the link between the monument and the local slate activity.

In 1815, the castle was sold to an entrepreneur who installed a cerusa factory there, marking his entry into the industrial era. Rached in 1835 by the Société sardoisière du Moulin Sainte Anne, it became its seat until 1946, when its property was dispersed. The city of Fumay acquired it in 1952 to install municipal services, post office and perception. Since 1972, it has been listed in the Historical Monuments, protecting its facades and roofs, excluding the posterior chimney. Today, it is a communal property that embodies both the aristocratic heritage and the industrial heritage of the Ardennes.

The site offers a panorama of the Meuse and the remains of nearby slates, such as Belle-Rose, highlighting its role in Fumay's economic history. Its architecture, combining seigneurial elegance and functionality, reflects the social and technical transformations of the region, from the seventeenth century to the modern era. Local materials, such as violet slates, permanently anchor the castle in its territory.

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