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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The château d'École, also known as the château du Saint-Esprit, is a building built between 1557 and 1559 in Valentine's School (Doubs), under the leadership of the Commander of the Hospitallers of the Holy Spirit. Intended to serve as a palace and meeting place for the chapters of the order, he also played an administrative role in managing the farms and lands dependent on the hospitals of the region, especially those of School and Valentin. Its architecture reflects this dual vocation, combining prestige and functionality.

The monument is distinguished by remarkable architectural elements, inherited from the Renaissance: an adorned facade, double-storey latrines integrated in a round half-round, a spiral staircase in a square tower, as well as monumental chimneys and French ceilings. These characteristics make it a rare testimony of the art of building at the hinge of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, mixing medieval influences and innovations of the modern period.

Protected as historical monuments since 31 December 1980, the castle is now owned by a private company. Its registration in the general inventory underlines its heritage importance, although its access to the public (visits, rentals, accommodation) is not specified in the available sources. The Merimée base and the local archives place it at 7 Rue de la Fontaine, confirming its anchoring in the historical landscape of the Doubs.

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