Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Montmirey-la-Ville has its origins in Villeguindry, a fief mentioned in the fourteenth century. In 1772, a new owner acquired the estate and built a central house, the nucleus of the present castle. Sold in 1805, the site was equipped with a park that dates back to that period. Between 1842 and 1884, the castle underwent major changes: two wings in return were added in 1842, followed by the guardian's house and orangery (1850), and then a remodeling of the facade on the park (from 1873) in a neo-Renaissance style. A neo-Gothic chapel, north and south pavilions (1880), and the expansion of the park in 1884 completed this work.

The entrance gate adopts a neo-medieval style, while the facade on the park features a forebody surmounted by a gazebo. Inside, the chapel houses murals and a figurative window, while the living rooms and library display neo-Renaissance decorations (painted ceilings, tapestries of Beauvais). The landscaped park, crossed by the Brisotte Creek, incorporates a hydraulic system with pond and water parts. The main road leads to the gate overlooking Montmirey-le-Château, where an 18th century grid remains.

Ranked Historic Monument by decree of 29 November 2010, the whole (castle, communes, park and gate) still belongs to the family Picot de Moras d'Aligny. The estate illustrates the evolution of 19th century architectural and landscape tastes, mixing medieval heritage, Renaissance revisited and hydraulic innovations. Its history also reflects the social changes of the nobility and the Earth bourgeoisie in Franche-Comté during this period.

Local archaeological excavations also reveal an ancient occupation of the site, with traces of a Roman villa near the present rue du Petit Pont, discovered in 1845. These remains (Gallian currency, tile, copper vase) testify to an ancient presence, supplemented by aerial prospecting identifying Roman buildings at the place called Les Rolis. These elements underline the historical stratification of the territory, well before the construction of the present castle.

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