Château de la Cour des Prés

Château de la Cour des Prés is a Renaissance residence in Rumigny built with two circular towers as part of its main facade design. The south side contains a salon while the north side houses a chapel, with the structure surrounding an inner courtyard that opens onto gardens.

Louis Martin, provost of Rumigny, built this fortified residence in 1546 under King Francis I's authority as a defensive structure against threats from the Netherlands. The location and design reflected the military needs of the border region during that period.

The fireplaces throughout the rooms display coats of arms featuring King Francis I's emblems and a four-petaled flower representing the Master of Forges. These decorations show the castle's connection to royal power and local authority of that time.

The castle is open July through August daily from 3 PM to 7 PM except Tuesdays, and also on Sundays and holidays from April through October. The Aube stream supplies water to the surrounding moats, making the grounds pleasant to walk around.

The building forms an L-shaped arrangement around the inner courtyard, an unusual design for fortified residences of that era. This asymmetrical layout allowed the structure to be both defensive and comfortable for living.

Location: Rumigny

GPS coordinates: 49.80780,4.27041

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:24