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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Vitry-la-Ville Castle, located in the department of Marne in the Grand Est region, has its origins in the early seventeenth century. In 1608 Hughes Mathé, receiver general of Champagne's finances, built a chalk castle on one level, covered with a dardian roof. In 1650 he added gardens designed by Jean de Bar, a pupil of the famous André Le Nôtre, and turned the river Guenelle to create a water mirror surrounding the castle, accessible by a drawbridge. This first building reflects the influence of the great Champagne estates of the period, mixing defensive utility and landscape aesthetics.

In 1723, the castle passed into the hands of Jean Morel, president of the finances of Champagne, who accompanied two lateral wings and a wrought iron gate made by Raygrenau. By the marriage of Morel's daughter to the Count of the Boys of Riocour, the estate entered into this family and remained there until 1993. The family chapel of the Boys of Riocour, located in the cemetery adjacent to the nearby church, bears witness to their long possession. The transformations of the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as those of the early 20th century, marked its architectural evolution.

The castle has been listed as a historical monument since 12 June 1990. This protection covers facades, roofs, low wings, entrance pavilions, 18th and 19th century grids, moat and bridges. These elements illustrate the heritage importance of the site, both for its family history and its architecture characteristic of the Champagne-Ardenne region.

Today, the Vitry-la-Ville castle embodies a financial, aristocratic and landscaped heritage. Its water mirror, gardens and wrought iron grills are reminiscent of the fascists of seigneurial residences, while its inscription as the Historic Monuments guarantees its preservation for future generations. The precise location, 1 Church Street, confirms its anchoring in the historical fabric of the village.

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