Construction of the castle 1740 (≈ 1740)
Edited for Jean-Baptiste Delecey, Mayor of Langres.
25 août 1994
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 25 août 1994 (≈ 1994)
Home protection, courtyard and corner towers.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Logis; space of the entrance courtyard; the two corner towers of the entrance courtyard; wall that separates the two towers (cad. C 167): registration by order of 25 August 1994
Key figures
Jean-Baptiste Delecey - Mayor of Langres (1738-1740)
Commander of the castle in 1740.
Origin and history
Changey Castle is a historic monument located in the commune of Changey, in the Grand Est region. Built during the second quarter of the eighteenth century, it embodies the civil architecture of this period, marked by a sober and elegant style, typical of bourgeois or aristocratic provincial residences. This type of building often served as a symbol of local power, while providing a comfortable living environment for its occupants.
The castle was built in 1740 for Jean-Baptiste Delecey, then mayor of the nearby town of Langres between 1738 and 1740. This character, although little documented in available sources, embodies the link between architectural heritage and local administrative history. The protected elements of the castle, such as the house, the entrance courtyard and its corner towers, were inscribed in the Historic Monuments in 1994, highlighting their heritage value.
At the time of its construction, the region, then integrated into the province of Champagne, was marked by a rural and artisanal economy. Castles like Changey played a central role in the social organization, serving as a residence for local notables while participating in the economic and political life of the community. Their presence often reflected the influence of their owners, as evidenced by the case of Jean-Baptiste Delecey, whose municipal mandate coincided with the period of construction of the castle.
The partial inclusion of the castle as part of the Historic Monuments in 1994 helped preserve key elements of its original architecture. These include the main house, the entrance court space, and the two corner towers that frame the latter. These features illustrate the importance attached to the symmetry and monumentalization of entrances to 18th-century homes, an architectural trend widespread in France at that time.
Although the practical information concerning the opening of the castle to the public or its current use is not specified in the available sources, its heritage inscription suggests recognition of its historical and cultural interest. The geographical coordinates and approximate address, located in Changey in the Haute-Marne, allow to locate this monument in a territory marked by a rich heritage, between Langres and Chaumont, two cities with medieval and modern intertwined histories.
