Château de L'Échelle, L'Échelle, France

Château de L'Échelle origins are unknown. A first castle at this site was probably founded in the 13th century. In the 15th century a band of Armagnacs, outlawed supporters of Charles, Duke of Orléans, during the Hundred Years' War, settled in L'Echelle Castle and ravaged the area.

In 1594, Antoine de La Marche des Contes became Lord of L'Echelle by his marriage to Anne de Maucourt. Antoine, Governor of Sedan between 1599 and 1640, rebuilt L'Echelle Castle and gave it its present appearance. In 1642 Spanish troops plundered the village and attacked the castle. The castle walls still bear traces of this attack.

In 1730 the castle was acquired by the Chapter of Reims and transformed into a farm. During the French Revolution it was confiscated and sold as Bien Nationaux to a local hatter, Simon Pottier. He ceded the castle to the local community. The castle then became the town hall, a school and lodging for the head teacher.

At present L'Echelle Castle is still property of the village and houses a small local history museum.

References:

castles.nl

User Reviews

annie vaucois (2 years ago)
Small Commune where there is the Ardennes vineyard

Linda Coffart (3 years ago)
Hello, I went there with my children to visit the museum of THE SCHOOL OF YESTERDAY and it has much more to young and old. We didn't have time to visit the castle but still had a look. I'm thinking of going on a little expedition to the castle soon.

Raphael Graziani (3 years ago)
Pretty little village, too bad there is no motorhome parking area because we would have gladly stayed for the night. Very beautiful castle and go see the wash house. The museum should just display the opening hours because we would have liked to do so.

Aymeric Staniewiez (3 years ago)
Superb castle in a pretty little Ardennes village...

Denis Hodister (3 years ago)
It houses the museum of the school of yesterday. Open on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month from May 1

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright csakkarin

Historic Site of the week

Doune Castle

Doune Castle was originally built in the thirteenth century, then probably damaged in the Scottish Wars of Independence, before being rebuilt in its present form in the late 14th century by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany (c. 1340–1420), the son of King Robert II of Scots, and Regent of Scotland from 1388 until his death. Duke Robert"s stronghold has survived relatively unchanged and complete, and the whole castle was traditionally thought of as the result of a single period of construction at this time. The castle passed to the crown in 1425, when Albany"s son was executed, and was used as a royal hunting lodge and dower house.

In the later 16th century, Doune became the property of the Earls of Moray. The castle saw military action during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and Glencairn"s rising in the mid-17th century, and during the Jacobite risings of the late 17th century and 18th century.

Château de L'Échelle

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Doune Castle