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Origin and history

The château de Clémery finds its origins in a 15th century fortified complex, mentioned as early as 1416 as a strategic point disputed between the Dukes of Lorraine and Bar. Occupied by Charles II of Lorraine to counter Édouard III of Bar, he then passed into the hands of local noble families, including the Clémery, then the Fouquet de la Routte by marriage in 1574. During the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), the estate was briefly taken by the imperial troops in 1635 before being taken over by François de La Hospital, future Marshal of France, after a three-day siege.

In the 18th century, the seigneury of Clemery was raised to the rank of marquisat under Jean Baptiste Gaston du Hautoy, chamberlain of Duke Léopold of Lorraine. The castle, still austere, remained in the Hautoy family until the early 19th century, when it was sold to Géraud Duroc, close to Napoleon. Between 1783 and 1829, some of the fortifications (tours, drawbridge, moat) were demolished to modernize the site. In 1831, the widow Duroc gave up the estate to the Arnoult, then by alliance to the Ladoucette and finally to the Thibaut de la Rochethulon in 1861.

A radical transformation was carried out in the 19th century by the architect Prosper Morey for Fernand de la Rochethulon: the central body was raised, the facade redesigned in a Second Empire style, and the interiors redeveloped. The U-shaped castle with two conical towers preserves elements classified as the large staircase, living rooms and an alcove room. During the two world wars, he served as a military hospital (1914-1918) and then as a prison under German occupation (1939-1945), suffering partial damage. Today, private, he only opens his gardens on Heritage Days.

The 15-hectare park, built in the 19th century, houses rare species such as a century-old redwood, a tulip tree and a biloba ginkgo. An orangery and a maze of boxwood complete this set, while a bunker dating back to 1914 bears witness to its military past. The protected elements since 1986 include the south gate, facades, roofs, and several furnished interior rooms from the late 19th century.

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