14 - Justice of the Peace
The archway is one of the last remnants of the castle, despite having undergone numerous modifications throughout history. It is believed that this gate provided access to the inner courtyard of the castle which was surrounded by a perimeter wall and a dry moat. To the right stone blocks can see be seen where a rampart and a tower once stood. The rough protruding stones that are still visible in places indicate the defensive nature of these walls. In the Middle Ages, the provost marshal based here, under the jurisdiction of Chaumont, meted out justice to fifty surrounding parishes. On the ground floor the small barred windows of the prison cells can be seen to this day. In 1790 the provost marshal was replaced by a Justice of the Peace until this institution was abolished in 1958.
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