Situated between Chaumont and Neufchâteau on a steep spur, Reynel was an advanced defence post against the Holy Roman Empire and Lorraine in the Middle Ages.
Because of its strategic location, the lordship of Reynel belonged to powerful feudal families, including the Joinvilles and the Amboises, all vassals of the King of France. The castle suffered first from the Wars of Religion and then from the Thirty Years' War, so that by the mid-seventeenth century it was in such a state of disrepair that when it was purchased in 1763 by Joseph-Adrien de la Rue, Count of Mareilles, all but a round tower were removed. The château was rebuilt as it stands today (listed in the Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments Historiques).
Its appeal is due to its historical importance, its magnificent view over the valley, its beautiful woodwork, its collectors' furniture and a large gallery of paintings, including the world-famous "Destiny and Humanity", known as the "painting of the hands", by the master Jef Leempoels.
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Château de Reynel
