A noble marriage
In 1596, Claude II de Verrières, son of Claude de Verrières, Lord of Amanty, Taillancourt, Pagny-sur-Meuse… chamberlain of Duke Charles III, married Louise des Salles, daughter of Claude des Salles, Lord of Chardogne, Coussey, Dainville, Vouthon-Haut et Bas, Baron of Gouhécourt and Mercy… These two families had considerable property in this lower valley of the Meuse and this patrimonial accumulation enabled Louise des Salles to have a dowry of 60 000 pounds "barrois" and for the young couple to foresee offering themselves a prestigious residence in the heart of their possessions.

An ambitious project
In 1598, Claude II de Verrières bought the old fortified manor house of the Isle-en-Bras, located in the bottom of the valley, on the bank of the Canal de la Roche. This fief known since the 12th century had notably belonged to the Bourlémont's in the 14th century, a time when the castle was twice burned down and restored. Claude de Verrières decided to abandon this old castle and have a new castle built 300 metres away, on a terrace overlooking the valley: Bras became Montbras!
In 1599, with the death of his father, Claude de Verrières took the title of Lord of Amanty, Mauvage, Taillancourt, Pagny, Traveron… and between 1599 and 1608, it made up the seigneury of Montbras, which was established as a barony after 1611, the year of the death of Louise des Salles and the remarriage of Claude de Verrières with Julia della Valle, from a rich family of Mantoue, that came to Lorraine with Marguerite de Gonzague, the wife of Duke Henry II.

Good and bad fortune of successions
With the death of Louise des Salles in 1611, the construction of the castle in Montbras that had put a heavy strain on the couple's heritage, was unfinished. Despite being in France, the castle suffered its share of the hardships that ravaged the neighbouring Lorraine during the Thirty Year War. Claude de Verrières died before 1638, and the castle was acquired in its entirety by one of his heirs, Simon de Sommyèvre. In 1643, Montbras was then uninhabited and already disfigured... Charles-Gaspard de Sommyèvre (1677-1724) moved in only at the end of the 17th century, having to pay for significant work. The castle, little used after 1750, stayed in this family until 1837. It was then sold to farmers, in very damaged condition… and happily bought in 1876 by Francis de Chanteau: it was the beginning of the rebirth of Montbras!