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Origin and history

The castle of Lichecourt, in Relanges (Vosges), finds its origins in the 15th century with the construction of a strong house by Jean de Thysac and his wife Alix de Massy, members of a family of nice glassmen from Bohemia. These craftsmen, called in Lorraine by the Duke, exploit local forest resources for glass production. The strong house, burned several times, was rebuilt in the middle of the 16th century by their son Nicolas de Thysac, who added the south pavilion, the present castle, a north tower and a enclosure. This site then becomes the heart of a domain shared between heirs, marking the beginning of an indivisional regime that will last until the French Revolution.

From the 16th century, the castle was divided among the descendants of the founders, notably the sons-in-law of Nicolas de Thysac: Nicolas de Dardenet (Lord of Gourey) and Philippe le Brun (Lord of Mons-en-Quercy). During the Thirty Years War (1635), the enclosure was destroyed by French and Swedish troops. A major reconstruction took place between 1703 and 1732, giving the castle its present appearance, with a main façade dated 1707 and 1723. In the 19th century, the north tower was raised in a neo-Gothic style, imitating a medieval dungeon.

The estate consists of three main buildings: the rectangular sandstone castle, flanked by two uneven towers (one neogothic, the other retaining 16th century murderers), and two square pavilions surrounding the court of honour. The southern pavilion houses a Renaissance chapel where the Lords of Lichecourt rest, while the Louis XIII North pavilion once housed a feudal dovecote. The house of the glassmaker of Thysac, next to the southern pavilion, bears witness to the artisanal origins of the estate. Since 2000, the farm has hosted a retirement home for horses, Crins Blancs.

Several elements of the castle have been protected as historical monuments since 1973 (main elevation, towers, pavilions) and 1986 (house of the glassmaker). The site illustrates the history of the Lorrain glassmakers, a major economic activity from the 15th to the 18th century, as well as the architectural evolution of a seigneurial residence, from medieval strong houses to classical reconstructions. The estate also offers views of the Darney Forest and the church bell tower of Notre-Dame de Relanges, highlighting its anchoring in the Vosges landscape.

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