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Origin and history

The castle of Vendeuvre-sur-Barse, attested from the 11th century, was initially a medieval fortress controlled by the family of Vendeuvre. In the 15th century, he passed into the hands of Miles X de Noyers, Marshal of France, then to the family of Mello before being acquired by Charles I of Amboise, Governor of Champagne and Burgundy. He and his son François, Grand Master of the Order of Saint-Lazarus, lived there at the end of the 15th century. After the death of François, his brother Charles II of Amboise, Marshal of France, inherited it before the seigneury was passed on by inheritance and marriage to Antoinette d'Amboise, successively married La Rochefoucauld and then Louis de Luxembourg.

In the 17th century, the castle was profoundly remodeled by Jean IX de Mesgrigny, Viscount de Troyes and intendant of Champagne, who reconstructed the house in a Louis XIII style, however retaining medieval elements such as the dungeon and thick walls. The estate, erected as a marquisat in 1644, changed hands several times: sold in 1752 to Gabriel Pavée de Provenches, he remained in his progeny until Guillaume Pavée de Vendeuvre, president of the General Council of the Dawn under Louis-Philippe. In the 19th century, modifications were made, including the addition of a scauguette, while the neoclassical staircase was decorated with bas-reliefs by Simart.

The castle, listed and partially classified as historical monuments in 1963 and 1981, illustrates the architectural evolution of a medieval fortress as a seigneurial residence. Its protected elements include facades, the large 18th-century staircase with stucco decoration, as well as 17th and 18th-century panelling and fireplaces. Today owned by the Aube department, it bears witness to the history of Champagne, the families of Amboise and Luxembourg to its contemporary role.

The building is distinguished by its double facade: the north, inspired by Louis XIII, contrasts with the south, with thick walls inherited from the fortress, dominating terraces and an esplanade crossed by the Barse, whose spring springs under the castle. The dovecote and orangery, dated from the 17th and 19th centuries, complete this ensemble, reflecting the seigneurial and agricultural uses of the period.

The private archives of the d'Amboise family, cited as a source, highlight the strategic and symbolic importance of the castle, linked to one of the oldest baronies of Champagne. Its history, marked by marriage alliances and reconstructions, makes it a privileged witness to the political and architectural dynamics of the 11th to 19th century region.

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