26/06/2024
🏰 Braux-Sainte-Cohière Castle, also known locally as Château de Braux-Sainte-Cohière or simply Château de Braux, is situated in the village of Braux-Sainte-Cohière in the Marne department of France.
📅 The history of lordship in Braux dates back to the late 14th century, shared between the King of France and Jehan de Saulx, Lord of Braux, Epense, and Bignipont. Positioned on the border between the French kingdom and the Duchy of Lorraine, and located near an ancient Roman road, it held significant strategic importance.
🏰👑 The current castle, constructed in the late 16th century by Philippe de Thomassin, Lord of Braux and later Viscount of Châlon, replaced an earlier structure. Philippe, a loyal companion to French kings Henry III and Henry IV during the tumultuous Wars of Religion, intended the castle to symbolize royal authority in the region. Initially designed as a fortified military commandery, it housed a troop of light cavalry while Philippe himself resided in Châlons.
📅 Over time, as the region was pacified following Lorraine’s attachment to the Kingdom of France and advancements in weaponry such as metal cannonballs, the castle’s military significance diminished. By the late 17th century, the castle’s officer quarters were transformed into a comfortable residence.
🌙 Ownership of the castle passed through several families including the Le Gorlier de Verneuils, the Drouets, the Dorigny d’Agny’s, the Darteins, and the Bussingers until it was acquired by the Institut de France, a prestigious French learned society, in 2007.
📅 Despite this, the castle remained vacant for several years until it was purchased in a state of disrepair by its current owners in 2014. Since then, they have been gradually restoring it, with the dovecote being the only remaining structure from the earlier 15th century castle.
