Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Chaumont Museum of Art and History has been housed since 1965 in the 22-metre-high Romanesque dungeon, formerly used as a prison until 1886. This dungeon is part of the former palace of the Counts of Champagne, built in the 13th and 14th centuries. The site, initially fortified by the Counts of Chaumont in the 10th century, then passed to the house of Champagne, then became a bailiff's seat in 1255 before becoming part of the royal domain. The fortifications were regularly revised, notably under Charles VIII, François I and Henri de Lorraine.

The museum houses a variety of collections: regional archaeology (like a 9th century B.C. breastplate), medieval to classical sculptures, and a space dedicated to glovery, a thriving local industry in the 19th century. A room is dedicated to sculptors Jean-Baptiste and Edme Bouchardon. The paintings, too numerous to be exposed, are presented by rotation due to the smallness of the places.

The castle, whose dungeon is 10.6 m by 12 m with walls of 2.6 m thick, retains architectural elements notable as two 13th century windows. The historic entrance was through the Barle Gate or the Waterway Gate. The site reflects the military and political transformations of the region, from crusades to reparations ordered by John II of Lorraine in 1467.

Among the remarkable pieces are a regional retable, the lying of Jean l'Aveugle and the remains of Claude de Lorraine's tomb. These collections illustrate local history, from antiquity to modern times, while highlighting Chaumont's artistic and artisanal heritage.

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