Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The castle of Hannels, located in Ville-en-Woëvre in the Great East, has its origins in the early 16th century. In 1506 Thierry I of the Armoises and his wife Babeline of Oriocourt undertook the reconstruction of the old medieval castle, then owned by the Armoise family since 1494. This monument, heir to the families of Sampigny, Ville and Lenoncourt in the 15th century, remained in the hands of the Armoises until 1689, before undergoing multiple changes of owners in the 18th century.

The architecture of the castle evolved over the centuries: a wing in return for a chapel was pierced in the 18th century, while an oriel was added in the 19th century. Gravely damaged by the 1916 bombings, the castle was restored after World War I. This restoration accompanied the suppression of dependencies, part of the wing of the chapel and defensive elements such as cannon trees. Today, its facades, roofs and chapel on the first floor have been classified as Historic Monument since 1992.

The castle illustrates the architectural transformations and historical vicissitudes of Lorraine, between medieval heritage, adaptations of modern times and post-conflict reconstructions. Its location in Ville-en-Woëvre, in the Meuse, makes it a witness to the local dynamics, between Earth nobility, wars and heritage preservation. Successive families, such as the Armoises, left a lasting imprint, mixing residential, religious (via the chapel) and defensive functions.

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