Heritage classified

Origin and history

Louppy-sur-Loison Castle, located in the commune of the same name in the Grand Est region, is an emblematic monument dating back to the 12th century. The first records of a castle at this location date from the end of the 12th century, when it belonged to the Count of Bar, Thibaut I. At that time, Louppy-sur-Loison, then called Louppy-les-deux-Châteaux, was a strategic fortress with two castles gathered by walls, dominating a loop of the Loison. The vestiges still visible today, like a tower and a courtine near the church, bear witness to this medieval period, with defensive elements such as moat and dangle towers. These ruins, probably from the 13th or 14th centuries, illustrate the military and residential importance of the site, as evidenced by the traces of chimneys and benches under the windows.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the present castle was built between 1620 and 1633 by Simon II de Pouilly, Marshal of Barrois and Governor of Stenay, on the structures of a 15th century castle. This architectural program, completed in 1632, was designed to affirm the power of its sponsor and to welcome the Duke of Lorraine's court. The castle combines defensive elements, such as cannons and a rocking drawbridge, with a monumental classical aesthetic, with carved portals representing the four elements and mythological scenes. In 1637, the former castle, in ruins, was dismantled, and Louis XIV established its headquarters there at the siege of Montmedy in 1657, marking its strategic importance during the 17th century conflicts.

The transformations continued in the 18th and 19th centuries: the windows were enlarged, the stone crosses removed, and the wall coatings added to the inner courtyard. In the 19th century, the central body was redesigned, with arcade closures and the addition of mansard windows. The castle, classified as a Historical Monument since 1980, also preserves a remarkable dovecoier and a chapel decorated with frescoes linked to the Benedictine Abbey of Juvigny. Its English park, along the Loison, and its rare essences complete this heritage complex. During the two world wars, the castle was looted and served as a prison camp, adding a tragic historical dimension to its architectural heritage.

The church of the Madeleine, founded in the 11th century by Adam de Menthon, canon of Verdun, and the church of Saint Martin, built in 1878 in neo-Roman style, complete the local heritage. The first, located outside the ramparts, houses a 15th century altarpiece and a funeral chapel decorated with frescoes, while the second, built on the ruins of the old castle, reflects the demographic prosperity of the 19th century. These monuments, associated with the classified feudal ruins, illustrate the evolution of Louppy-sur-Loison, from medieval fortress to Lorrain village marked by military and religious history.

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