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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Melville Castle is a neoclassical building built in 1780 in the commune of Saint-Martin-lès-Langres, Haute-Marne. Located below the Langres fortress, it dominates the banks of the Mouche, a local tributary. The estate includes, in addition to the castle itself, a former stationery converted into guest rooms and agricultural outbuildings. Although privately owned, some of its architectural elements, such as facades, roofs, and an 18th century wooden staircase, have been protected since 1990.

The castle illustrates the aristocratic residential architecture of the late Old Regime, with circular pavilions and farm buildings surrounding an entrance courtyard. His identified masterpiece, Pierre Caroillon, helped shape this monument, now closed to the public but partially dedicated to equestrian activities. The Navarre stationery, which is part of the estate, bears witness to an earlier local industrial activity, which is now converted into tourist accommodation.

Listed at the Additional Inventory of Historic Monuments in 1990, Melville Castle retains authentic 18th century features, although its current use is mainly private and touristic. Its location, close to Langres, an iconic fortified city, reinforces its anchor in the historical heritage of the Grand Est region, formerly Champagne-Ardenne.

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