Château de Mez-le-Maréchal lies in the woods east of the town of Dordives. It was built in the early 13th century by Henry I Clément. The castle stayed in the hands of the Clément family until the end of the 13th century when they died out. In 1314 it passed into the royal domain and was acquired by Philip IV of France.
Up until the early 16th century Mez-le-Maréchal Castle was used by the French kings as a currency in exchange for loyalty from several military leaders. Its only military feat was when it was taken by English troops who were retreating from Montargis, in 1427.
In later centuries it went through the hands of numerous families and was sold a couple of times. It was used as a residence until the mid-18th century, after which it fell to ruin and was used as a quarry by the locals. In 2016 it was finally acquired by Florian Renucci, the master-mason of Guédelon Castle, which is a new 20th century castle being built in 12th century style in the French department of Burgundy.
Mez-le-Maréchal Castle was built in the style of French military architecture of the 13th century, called 'Philippian' after Philip II of France. It consists of a square enclosure with round towers at its corners and a gate, protected by 2 more round towers, in the middle of the north face.
References:Ogrodzieniec Castle is a ruined medieval castle originally built in the 14th–15th century by the W³odkowie Sulimczycy family. Established in the early 12th century, during the reign of Boles³aw III Wrymouth, the first stronghold was razed by the Tatars in 1241. In the mid-14th century a new gothic castle was built here to accommodate the Sulimczycy family. Surrounded by three high rocks, the castle was well integrated into the area. The defensive walls were built to close the circuit formed by the rocks, and a narrow opening between two of the rocks served as an entrance.
In 1470 the castle and lands were bought by the wealthy Cracovian townsmen, Ibram and Piotr Salomon. Then, Ogrodzieniec became the property of Jan Feliks Rzeszowski, the rector of Przemy¶l and the canon of Cracow. The owners of the castle about that time were also Jan and Andrzej Rzeszowskis, and later Pilecki and Che³miñski families. In 1523 the castle was bought by Jan Boner.