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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The château d'Arrentières, located in the department of the Aube, is mentioned from the 13th century as a strong house, perhaps linked to the Templars of the command of Thors, local lords in the 12th century. In 1238 he was quoted as a castle, and in 1319 Jean d'Arrentières, bailli of Vermandois and Chaumont, obtained permission to found a chapel there. This knight, an important figure in the region, marks the feudal height of the site.

In the 15th century, the castle was partially rebuilt, with defensive elements such as ditches, towers and an underground room. In the 17th century, he was shaved by order of Louis XIII after the conversion to Protestantism of his lord, accused of felony. Only two towers remain (including a dovecote transform), an underground room and remains of the 13th and 15th centuries. An 18th-century square building is attached to one of the towers.

In the 19th century, the castle became the residence of Louis Ladislas de Lassus, as evidenced by a census. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1994, it retains protected elements: ditches, courtines, towers, and facades of the house. Its history reflects the religious and political tensions of the Old Regime, as well as the architectural transformations over nearly six centuries.

Today, the site shows successive strata, from Templars to modern redevelopments. The medieval remains, though partial, offer an overview of the defensive and seigneurial systems in Champagne. The inscription in the Historical Monuments underscores its heritage value, linked to the military and social history of the Dawn.

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