Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Marbeaumont, located in Bar-le-Duc in the Meuse, was built between 1903 and 1905 by the Varin-Bernier family, influential bankers of Lorraine. Designed by architects Lucien Lehmann and Jules Renard, it embodies historicalism and eclecticism of the time, combining neo-Renaissance, neo-Louis XIII and Art Nouveau elements. With modern technologies (electricity, elevator, central heating), it symbolized the financial power of its owners. The estate, surrounded by an English park with rare species, was ceded to the city in 1946.

Originally, the site belonged to the Abbey of Sainte-Hoïlde before being acquired by the Varin-Bernier family in the 19th century. A first house, built in 1866-1869, was replaced by the present castle, commissioned by Paul Varin-Bernier to affirm its status. During the First World War, he welcomed generals like Pétain and Clemenceau, serving as a rear base during the Battle of Verdun. Damaged during the conflicts, it was restored and transformed into a media library in 1996, now home to 140,000 works and heritage holdings.

The interior architecture of the castle reflects an ostentatious luxury, with salons decorated in various styles (Renaissance, Louis XVI, Directory). The ground floor includes a walnut and marble hall, a dining room with painted boxes, and a glass and earthenware winter garden. The park, built by Philippe Arbeaumont, includes a piece of water, a rock cascade, and remarkable trees such as a redwood or a Fau de Verzy. Ranked a historic monument in 1980, the castle combines architectural heritage and contemporary cultural function.

The Jean Jeukens media library, which has been located in the castle since 1996, maintains a heritage fund of 65,000 ancient books, including 500 Renaissance prints, as well as local manuscripts and archives. The collections include donations from Barisian personalities, such as the Léon Maxe-Werly fonds (archaeology) or Henri Dannreuther (protestantism). The building, owned by the city, remains a symbol of industrial patronage and the adaptation of the heritage to public uses.

During the Second World War, the German General Staff occupied the castle and burned the communes before their departure. In 1946, René Varin-Bernier gave him a symbolic prize to the municipality. After sheltering administrative and school services, it was renovated in the 1990s to accommodate the media library, marking a new phase of its life, between historical preservation and cultural accessibility.

Future

The castle became a property of the city in 1946, and since 1996 has been home to the Jean Jeukens Media Library.

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