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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Stanislas Castle, located in Commercy in the Meuse, occupies the site of a 13th century medieval castle, partially rebuilt in the 15th century for Robert II, Lord of Commercy. Transformed into a residence at the beginning of the seventeenth century by Cardinal Retz, he retained his medieval foundations. This castle became a sovereign principality, inherited by Charles-Henri, Count of Vaudémont, legitimized son of Duke Charles IV of Lorraine.

In the 1st quarter of the 18th century, the castle was profoundly remodeled for Charles-Henri of Lorraine, then for Stanislas Leszczyński, Duke of Lorraine and former King of Poland. The architect Emmanuel Héré directed the works, including the construction of the stables (1744-1747) and the layout of the gardens, which had been abolished in 1766 after Stanislas's death. The castle, classified as a Historical Monument since 1960, is marked by illustrious stays such as those of Voltaire and the Marquise du Châtelet, who wrote there Nanine and Sémiramis.

The court of honour, framed by commons in hemicycle, has a monumental grid and facades adorned with balustrades and pots of fire. The main house body, with its columned forebody and triangular pediment, dominates the Meuse thanks to a monumental staircase. The site, occupied by the cavalry from 1766 to 1911, suffered a fire in 1944 before being restored until 1970. A famous anecdote links the castle to the invention of the Madeleine de Commercy, thanks to Madeleine Paulmier, servant of the Marquise de Beaumont.

The protections under the Historical Monuments cover facades, roofs, commons, and medieval substructures. The castle, owned by the commune, bears witness to the successive architectural transformations, from its defensive origins to its role as a princely residence and a place of cultural life in the Enlightenment century.

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