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Origin and history

The château des Ducs de Lorraine, located in Sierck-les-Bains en Moselle, is a medieval castle built in the 11th century. Installed on a rocky promontory, it overlooks the meanders of the Moselle, at the crossroads of the German, Luxembourg and French borders. Its walls, casemates and massive to lethal towers still testify to its strategic and architectural importance. It is one of the few forts in eastern France preserved in such an imposing state.

Mentioned for the first time in 1037, the castle became in 1171 a possession shared between the bishops of Metz and the Dukes of Lorraine. It served as a favourite residence for the latter until the 17th century. Over the centuries, it has been destroyed, redesigned and rebuilt on several occasions, especially during conflicts between the Kingdom of France and neighbouring powers. In 1633 Louis XIII took over, before he became "imperial" again in 1635. In 1673, the Grand Condé had him disarmed and dismantled, and was restored in 1705 by the Marshal of Villars. After various rearmaments and decommissionings in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was finally sold in 1811, its materials being partly recovered.

Ranked a historic monument since February 1930, the castle now houses a collection of 15th and 16th century weapons in its arsenal. He is also a member of Moselle's Great Sites network. Its protected elements include the ruins of the castle and its fortifications, dating from the 12th or 13th century (such as the Knights' Hall), and for others from the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries (fortifications, battery tower, powder shops).

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