Located in Manom, about forty kilometres from Luxembourg, in the French Moselle region, just between Thionville and Cattenom, the Château de Lagrange has been getting a makeover this year. For the time being, it is not possible to visit the castle, except for groups of at least 20 people with prior reservation. But then it will once again be a must-see, a little-known heritage nugget that is as valuable for its building as for its gardens.

Its roots are ancient, dating back to the 12th century. It has passed through the hands of various families over the years, with a certain discretion. But the torments of wars only bring misfortune. The Thirty Years' War finally brought it to its knees. By the middle of the 17th century, nothing remained of the Château de La Grange, named after its first owners.

In 1701, it was acquired by Brice Gomé des Hasards. It was his son, Christophe, who decided to have a castle rebuilt on the site in 1731, based on plans by Robert de Cotte. From the Middle Ages, only a part of the cellars and the moat remain. But Christophe did not enjoy it for long: financially ruined, he sold the property in 1752 to the Marquis de Fouquet, cousin of Louis XIV's famous superintendent of finance. It is his direct descendants who still own the castle.

Further work was carried out in the 19th century, in particular the construction of outbuildings, the new house, the caretaker's house, the so-called Algiers house...

One of the salons, with its furniture and decoration. (Photo: Château de Lagrange)

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The beautiful staircase leading to the upper floors. (Photo: Château de Lagrange)

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The dining room. (Photo: Château de Lagrange)

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A magnificent, little-known castle, which is currently being renovated. (Photo: Château de Lagrange)

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The interior of the castle contains magnificent pieces of 18th century furniture, objets d'art, ceramics, paintings... The castle was classified as a historical monument, for the most part, in 1984. The same applies to the Prairiales garden, with its incredible collection of boxwood and flowers from all over the world.

Weddings, seminars, cinema...

Over the years, the Château de Lagrange has developed numerous services, notably to finance its upkeep. The venue is obviously popular for weddings.

The beautiful driveway of the estate. (Photo: Château de Lagrange)

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The castle's garden enjoys a well-deserved reputation. (Photo; Château de Lagrange)

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The garden will also soon be open to the public again. (Photo: Château de Lagrange)

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Several rooms can also be made available to companies for seminars or business lunches.

Finally, the Manom setting is often used for film shoots. About ten have already taken place there. Sometimes very classic productions, sometimes more surprising. In 2017, several scenes from Superjhemp Retörns were filmed there.

This article was originally published in French by , and has been translated and edited by Delano.