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Origin and history

Placey is an archaeological vestige of a medieval castral mot, dated the 13th century. Located in the Doubs, it has been listed as historical monuments since 1995. This fortified site, of circular shape (about 100 meters in diameter), was probably built of earth and wood, without apparent masonry. It would have been used to protect a church and a cemetery, according to historians' assumptions.

The enclosure seems to have been a dependency of the abbey Saint-Paul de Besançon since 1223. However, it was abandoned before the end of the 13th century, as evidenced by its later designation of Chatelard (designating an abandoned fortification) in the 15th century. The absence of thorough searches and complete written sources limits the precise understanding of its use and history.

No evidence of hard constructions was found, suggesting light wooden fittings. The site, now owned by the town of Placey, has been included in the inventory of historical monuments since 18 September 1995. Its present state reflects a terrified fortification typical of the Middle Ages, although its exact role and evolution remain partially mysterious.

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