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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Saint-Dizier found its origins in the 13th century as a central element of a castral village, first mentioned in 1189 in a cartular of Montier-en-Der Abbey. Originally belonging to the family of Dampierre, it was completed in 1228 and served as a seigneurial seat until 1401. The castle then passes to the Vergy by marriage, who carry out important works, including adding their coat of arms on the door. Integrated into the royal estate under Louis XI, it was confiscated and restored before being transformed into a strong place in the 16th century by engineers such as Girolamo Marini, with the addition of bastions.

In the 18th century, the castle lost its defensive role after the fire of 1775 and the creation of a new street fragmenting its enclosure. Sold as a national good during the Revolution, it was dismembered in the 19th century, losing several towers and courtines. A fire in 1945 destroyed a large part of the buildings, before partial reconstruction by the Viry family. Expropriated for public use, it was restored from 1997 and now houses administrative services, after being registered with the Historical Monuments in 1994.

The site preserves medieval remains (towers, fortified gate) and Renaissance facilities, reflecting its evolution between seigneurial residence, royal fortress and barracks. Its history reflects the political and military upheavals of the region, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era, with successive phases of abandonment and rehabilitation.

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