Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château de Ville-sur-Saulx, built around 1550 by order of Gilles de Trier, is a Renaissance house erected on a square plane by architect Ligier Richier. This castle, situated on horseback in the communes of Ville-sur-Saulx and Lisle-en-Rigault, incorporates a stationery and mill attested since the fourteenth century on the banks of the Saulx. The whole, modified in the 18th century, reflects the architectural and economic evolution of the region.

Acquired in 1892 by the Claudel family, the estate saw the addition of an English garden and a cast iron bridge on Saulx, now classified. This place inspired the writer Paul Claudel, who wrote in 1903 his play Sharing at noon. The stationery, renovated in the 19th century, ceased its activity the same year as the acquisition by Claudel, marking the transition to a residential and cultural vocation.

Ranked a historic monument in 1995, the castle retains protected elements: facades, roofs, 17th century commons, and the entire park extending over both municipalities. The site thus illustrates five centuries of history, mixing industrial, architectural and literary heritage. The communes, dating from the beginning of the seventeenth century, and the suspended bridge in cast iron (mid-19th) complete this remarkable ensemble.

Architect Ligier Richier, known for his work in the region, designs the initial structure on a square base, typical of the Renaissance. The estate, including plots in Lisle-en-Rigault, is a testament to the landscape and functional transformations, from its economic role (papetry) to its present heritage dimension. GPS coordinates place the castle near the Lisle road, in a preserved rural setting.

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