Bazoches Castle

Bazoches Castle, locally known as Château de Bazoches-sur-Vesles, lies in the center of the village with the same name, in the Aisne department in France.

Bazoches Castle was first mentioned in 1232 when Nicolas de Bazoches paid tribute to the Bishop of Soissoins. The castle consisted of a rectangular inner enclosure flanked by 9 towers and a much larger trapezoidal outer enclosure. Later it went to the Châtillon family.

The castle was damaged during the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) but restored. In 1652, during the Franco-Spanish War, the castle shortly served as the headquarters of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria in his capacity as Governor of the Spanish Netherlands.

The castle was damaged again in 1858. In 1918, during World War I, Bazoches Castle was almost completely destroyed by a bombing.

At present Bazoches Castle can not be visited as it is situated on private land. But it can be seen from the public road. A very nice ruin, I especially liked the subterranean corridors.

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