Initial construction XIIe siècle (≈ 1250)
Main construction period of the dungeon.
XVIe siècle
Amendment campaign
Amendment campaign XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Second major phase of architectural evolution.
1951
Integration of Migette's drawing
Integration of Migette's drawing 1951 (≈ 1951)
Work attached to the museum's collections.
6 décembre 1989
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 6 décembre 1989 (≈ 1989)
Registration by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Donjon des Gournay (old) (cad. 3 74): entry by order of 6 December 1989
Key figures
Auguste Migette - Artist
Author of a dungeon drawing (1951).
Origin and history
The Gournay dungeon is an emblematic building located in the commune of Longeville-lès-Metz, Moselle (Great East Region). Built mainly in the 12th and 16th centuries, it bears witness to the defensive and residential architecture of these periods. The monument is located at 78-80 rue du Général-de-Gaulle, and its inscription as historical monuments, by order of 6 December 1989, underscores its heritage importance. Today it belongs to a private company, and its current use (visit, rental, etc.) is not specified in available sources.
A drawing by Auguste Migette, entitled Le Donjon des Gournay, taken from my garden in Longeville, was offered to the city of Metz and integrated in 1951 into the collections of the Musée de la Cour d'Or. This iconographic document attests to the artistic and historical interest brought to the dungeon since the 20th century. Sources also indicate an approximate address from GPS coordinates (43 Migette Street), distinct from the official address recorded in the Merimée base.
The construction periods, centred on the 12th and 16th centuries, reflect major phases of architectural evolution, probably linked to defensive needs and then to residential adaptations. The dungeon is referenced in the Merimée and Monumentum bases, as well as in the list of historical monuments of the Moselle. Its state of conservation and accessibility to the public are not detailed, but its protected status guarantees its preservation for future generations.
