The fortress of Châtel is one of the most important examples of medieval military architecture in Lorraine.
Built at the end of the 11th century by the Counts of Vaudémont, a younger branch of the Dukes of Lorraine, around a large square keepThe first castle was enlarged in the 13th century with the addition of a porch tower, flanking towers and a seigneurial dwelling. Passed by marriage into the hands of the Neufchâtel-Bourgogne family, the château was considerably enlarged between 1430 and 1450 by Thiébaut VIII, then by his son Thiébaut IX. With the financial resources and expertise in armaments at their disposal, they built the entrance châtelet, the double enclosure to the north and a shield wall to the south along the Moselle to adapt the site to the new artillery. It wasn't until the century of Louis XIV that the outmoded fortress was captured by the troops of Maréchal de Créqui and dismantled in 1671.
Today, the remains, which cover more than 5 hectares, are the subject of a major restoration campaign by the Association du Vieux Châtel, which has been working on the site since 1972. Visible today are the 13th- and 15th-century underground installations, the double enclosure to the north with its 57-meter-wide ditch facing the plateau, the remains of the square keep, the artillery jacket facing the Moselle, and the wagon unloading system. The Communauté d'Agglomération d'Epinal (Epinal urban community), which now owns the site, has a large-scale development project around the theme of the Middle Ages.
A small team of permanent staff is responsible for the day-to-day upkeep of the remains throughout the year, while during the summer three international volunteer workcamps are organized under the aegis of REMPART to carry out the necessary protection and enhancement work. The program is approved by the Service Départemental de l'Archéologie et du Patrimoine, while the work is supervised by REMPART animators and technically directed by a professional stonemason.
Several guides are assigned full-time to organizing tours of the site, both for school groups and for occasional visitors and groups.
The Association's facilities enable it to organize heritage courses and workshops for school groups, based on themes chosen by the teachers, such as daily life, trades, water, fortification and artistic creation. The workshops are led by professionals in each discipline, enabling children to discover activities such as ceramics, calligraphy, illumination, basketry, mosaics, archaeology, heraldry and leatherwork. For adults, we organize volunteer days, workshops and courses in stone-cutting and sculpture, traditional masonry, stained glass, garden design and blacksmithing.
Longer stays are also available for groups of children on discovery courses, as well as for groups of adults wishing to spend a few days in the region.
Although the association has worked hard in the past to reintegrate people in difficulty, it is not currently listed as a social integration association.
Discovering stonework on historic monuments Châtel Sur Moselle Fortress, a listed historic monument The Châtel fortress is one of the most important examples of medieval military architecture in Lorraine. Built at the end...
Discovering stonework on historic monuments
Discovering stonework on historic monuments Châtel Sur Moselle Fortress, a listed historic monument The Châtel fortress is one of the most important examples of medieval military architecture in Lorraine. Built at the end...
Discovering stonework on historic monuments Châtel Sur Moselle Fortress, a listed historic monument The Châtel fortress is one of the most important examples of medieval military architecture in Lorraine. Built at the end...
Discovering stonework on historic monuments Châtel Sur Moselle Fortress, a listed historic monument The Châtel fortress is one of the most important examples of medieval military architecture in Lorraine. Built at the end...
Discovering stonework on historic monuments Châtel Sur Moselle Fortress, a listed historic monument The Châtel fortress is one of the most important examples of medieval military architecture in Lorraine. Built at the end...
