Château de Brienne

Présentation

The town of Brienne possessed a feudal castle, mentioned as early as 951, whose manuscripts describe an enclosure with a keep that was destroyed numerous times. In 1640, the Luxembourg family sold the feudal castle to Henri Auguste de Loménie. A little later, Nicolas Louis de Loménie inherited the County of Brienne. Among his children, two distinguished themselves: Etienne Charles became Prime Minister under Louis XVI, and Louis Marie Athanase served as Minister and Secretary of State for War. It was the latter who, in 1757, inherited the old fortress of Brienne. As it had fallen into ruin, he decided to demolish it and build the current structure. The château was built according to the plans of the architect JL Fontaine, starting in 1770, and the pavilions between 1770 and 1772. The inauguration took place on August 25, 1778, the feast day of Saint Louis (Louis being both the name of the King of France and of the Count of Brienne (Louis-Marie-Arthanase)), but the artwork, paintings, and sculptures were not completed until 1782. All the landscaping work in the park was not finished until around 1789, on the eve of the French Revolution, during which Louis Marie Athanase perished on the scaffold. His widow died in 1812. The château is one of the most majestic in Champagne and, due to its refined style, has earned it the nickname “The Little Versailles of the Aube.” During the French Campaign of 1814, the château was completely ransacked. In 1852, the château belonged to… The château is linked to the Bauffremont family. Its last owner was Duke Théodore de Bauffremont. Following his financial collapse, the château was sold in October 1933 to a property dealer who dispersed the furniture, library, and works of art, leaving the château to fall into disrepair. Purchased in 1955 by the Aube General Council, it was converted into a psychotherapeutic center and inaugurated on May 24, 1959, thus ensuring its preservation. Visits to the exterior are now prohibited to the public for safety reasons. A few guided tours of the interior are offered by the Association for the Preservation of Briennois Heritage. For the 2026 season, four guided tours will take place between July and October. These will be enhanced with entertainment (concerts, lectures). Contact the Great Lakes of Champagne Tourist Office for more information and to book your visit. #visitechateauBLC