LE COLLÈGE GILLES DE TRÈVES

Built by the dean of the Saint-Maxe collegiate church to educate the youth of the Barrois, the architecture of the
the building is typical of the Lorraine style of the 16th century influenced by the art and techniques of the Renaissance. Organized around a courtyard bounded by a gallery, it is characterized by its simple volume, its discreet but high roof, the regularity of the openings on high ornamented facades whose main treasures are hidden in the courtyard.
In order to offer quality education to the young people of the Barrois and to fight against the effects of the Protestant Reformation, Gilles de Trèves decided to finance the construction of a college, halfway between the Upper Town and the Bourg. The building was completed in 1574, but it was not open to schoolchildren until after the death of its founder in 1582. The Jesuits ran the establishment from 1617 to 1762, the date of the dissolution of their order by the Parliament of Paris. A secondary school and then a girls' school in the 19th century, the building was a place of education until 2002.
A fine example of Renaissance civil architecture, described as "the most beautiful town house in France" by Montaigne de passage in 1580, the buildings are organized around an inner courtyard lined with galleries. These are surmounted by balconies with curious interlaced balustrades. The roof has twin windows with triangular pediments and an elegant bell tower. The street façade was originally the most ornate, but was destroyed in 1831 due to its very poor condition. Of the original furnishings, only two chimney stacks unfortunately remain. Under the vault of the porch, the founder's motto recalls: "Let this house remain standing until the ant has drunk the waves of the sea and the turtle has circled the earth".

DATAtourisme France