Presentation

The Patrimoine de Vaudémont association is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the heritage of the castle town. Its activities include an annual project to preserve the medieval walls, guided tours and themed conferences.

Guides

The Tour de Brunehaut in the village of Vaudémont, Meurthe-et-Moselle, is an imposing vestige of the region's medieval past. Erected atop a steep hill, it dominates the surrounding landscape and is a fascinating testimony to the defensive architecture of past centuries. The tower is often associated with Brunehaut, a 6th-century Merovingian queen, although this attribution is more legendary than based on historical fact. The real history of the tower probably dates back to the 12th century, when Lorraine was a strategic region contested by various local lords.

Built of stone, the Tour de Brunehaut was an integral part of the fortifications of Château de Vaudémont, a stronghold defending the county of the same name.

In those days, feudal conflicts were frequent, and fortified castles played a crucial role in controlling the surrounding lands. The keep, several meters high, served both as an observation post and a last refuge in case of siege.

Over the centuries, the tower has suffered considerable damage, notably during the wars between the duchies of Lorraine and Bar, as well as during the Thirty Years' War. The massive stone walls have partially withstood the ravages of time, although sections have been dismantled or collapsed over the centuries. Today, all that remains of the tower are imposing ruins, offering a glimpse of its former grandeur.