Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Thuillières Castle was built in the 14th century with a medieval castle built in 1328 by Simon de Thuillières. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, this castle, then owned by the Marquis Marc de Beauvau-Craon, governor of Lorraine, was in ruins and seized for debts. The architect Germain Boffrand, active in the region for projects such as the castle of Haroué or the cathedral of Nancy, acquired it in 1722 for 10,000 pounds. He shaved the old fortress and re-used its materials to erect a new castle between 1722 and 1725, especially in care of the western facade overlooking the gardens. However, conflicts with the inhabitants and the death of his patron, Duke Léopold I in 1729, prompted him to sell the estate in 1736.

The castle changed hands several times: bought in 1736 by Jean-François d'Hablenville, squire of the Duke of Lorraine, he passed to the Randenrodt family during the French Revolution. In 1874 Charles de Finance, from a line of gentleman glassmakers, became the owner and divided the castle between a southern part he occupied and a northern part leased to farmers. In the 20th century, Bernard Diné (1973) and Matthieu Cognet (1985) undertook major restorations, suppressing parasitic additions and redeveloping the park. The Ministry of Culture protects the site by registering the castle and its dovecote in 1986, then classifying the facades and roof in 1989.

The castle is distinguished by its rectangular plan, its west facade adorned with a semi-rotonal advance and a double-railed perron, and its 18th-century dovecoier integrated into a 14th-century tower, keeping 700 bolts and a rotating ladder. Inside, we discover a central oval living room, the room of the Baroness of Thuillières, a chapel, and a museum dedicated to actress Eve Lavallière, who lived in Thuillières from 1920 to 1929. The estate, open to the public in summer, offers guided tours sometimes animated by theatrical saynetes, and faces the castle of Saint-Baslemont on the neighbouring town.

Future

In 1973, it was bought by Bernard Diné, who restored it. In 1985, Matthieu Cognet became the new owner and opened the castle to visit in the summer.

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