Oricourt Castle

Oricourt Castle, locally known as Château d'Oricourt, lies in the village of the same name in the Haute-Saône department in France.

Oricourt dates back to the mid-12th century when it was built by the Lords of Oricourt. A Gaucher of Oricourt was a Constable of the County of Burgundy, in 1170.

In the 2nd part of the 14th century the castle was owned by Jean de Blâmont, Lord of Vellexon, Vaire and Oricourt. After his death the castle was contested between his nephew Thiébaut II de Blâmont and Guillaume de Viene, Chamberlain to John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. After the troops of the Duke first took one of Thiébaut's other castles after a 4-month siege, Thiébaut also surrendered Oricourt to the Duke. This surrender saved the castle from destruction. In 1423 the confiscated castle was returned to the Blâmonts.

In 1435 Oricourt Castle came into the hands of Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy. Nicolas was a powerful and rich character who owned up to 30 castles throughout the Duchy and County of Burgundy. His family owned it until 1494. Then it went to the Barons of Oiselay.

At first the Oiselays resided in the castle but later they gradually moved out and only used the castle and its lands as a source of income. In 1634, at the start of the Ten Years' War, the Baron of Oisely garrisoned Oricourt with about 40 soldiers and allowed the villagers to take up refuge in the castle during times of trouble. In 1637 Swedish troops showed up at the castle but the castle was spared, probably after a ransom was paid. For the rest of the war, until 1644, the garrison however turned bad and started looting the area.

In 1657 Oricourt Castle became the property of the nobleman Claude François de Cordemoy. He used it as a summer residence until his death in 1708. His descendants owned the castle until 1761 when it passed to François Gabriel, Marquis de Chapuis, through marriage. He would be the last Lord of Oricourt, due to the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century, although his descendants kept ownership of the castle.

In the mid-19th century the castle passed to the Grivel family, through marriage. By then the castle had fallen into disrepair and had become a simple farm. In 1932 the Grivels sold the castle-farm to the resident farmer. His descendants still own and live in the castle.

At present Oricourt Castle can be visited for a fee. A very nice village castle.

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Oricourt Castle

Oricourt Castle, locally known as Château d'Oricourt, lies in the village of the same name in the Haute-Saône department in France.

Oricourt dates back to the mid-12th century when it was built by the Lords of Oricourt. A Gaucher of Oricourt was a Constable of the County of Burgundy, in 1170.

In the 2nd part of the 14th century the castle was owned by Jean de Blâmont, Lord of Vellexon, Vaire and Oricourt. After his death the castle was contested between his nephew Thiébaut II de Blâmont and Guillaume de Viene, Chamberlain to John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. After the troops of the Duke first took one of Thiébaut's other castles after a 4-month siege, Thiébaut also surrendered Oricourt to the Duke. This surrender saved the castle from destruction. In 1423 the confiscated castle was returned to the Blâmonts.

In 1435 Oricourt Castle came into the hands of Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy. Nicolas was a powerful and rich character who owned up to 30 castles throughout the Duchy and County of Burgundy. His family owned it until 1494. Then it went to the Barons of Oiselay.

At first the Oiselays resided in the castle but later they gradually moved out and only used the castle and its lands as a source of income. In 1634, at the start of the Ten Years' War, the Baron of Oisely garrisoned Oricourt with about 40 soldiers and allowed the villagers to take up refuge in the castle during times of trouble. In 1637 Swedish troops showed up at the castle but the castle was spared, probably after a ransom was paid. For the rest of the war, until 1644, the garrison however turned bad and started looting the area.

In 1657 Oricourt Castle became the property of the nobleman Claude François de Cordemoy. He used it as a summer residence until his death in 1708. His descendants owned the castle until 1761 when it passed to François Gabriel, Marquis de Chapuis, through marriage. He would be the last Lord of Oricourt, due to the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century, although his descendants kept ownership of the castle.

In the mid-19th century the castle passed to the Grivel family, through marriage. By then the castle had fallen into disrepair and had become a simple farm. In 1932 the Grivels sold the castle-farm to the resident farmer. His descendants still own and live in the castle.

At present Oricourt Castle can be visited for a fee. A very nice village castle.

Gallery

Details
Hits: 1519