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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Droizy is an ancient castle built in the first half of the 12th century, with an elevation of the dungeon in the 14th century. Located in the department of Aisne, on a hill near the Romanesque church of Droizy, it was originally surrounded by a quadrangular enclosure. Today, there is only a 14th century cylindrical dungeon, with a rampant staircase and four vaulted levels, as well as the remains of houses and partially preserved walls.

The dungeon was built by Robert de Droizy in the 12th century, then transformed into a farm in the 16th century. In the 20th century, architect Louis Bachoud acquired the monument in 1980, then in ruins, and proposed a restoration project approved in 1997. The work includes the preservation of original trimmings, the addition of an interior helical staircase and a glass roof for the tower. Several elements, including the dungeon, enclosure walls and archaeological floors, are classified as historical monuments between 1995 and 1997.

The castle illustrates medieval military architecture, with defensive features such as an assommoir above the entrance door, scauguettes at the top of a dungeon, and latrines integrated into a rectangular structure. The remains testify to its evolution, from its initial function as a fortress to its agricultural reuse, before its contemporary restoration aimed at making it accessible to the public.

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