The land of Hellocourt, a name attested since 1594, was originally called La Broc (1182). Former stronghold of the bishopric of Metz, successive property of several noble families in the 18th century, the estate was bought at the beginning of the 19th century by Baron Charles-Louis-Dieudonné Grandjean, General of the Empire, who built a castle there ( destroy). Passed by marriage to the Perrin and Villatte families, it was bought in 1890 by Wilhelm Lorenz, engineer in Karlsruhe (1842-1926). The latter modernized the entire estate, directing its production towards fish farming and breeding (cattle, horses, pigs) and entrusted the management of the 500 hectares (including 130 of forests and 52 of ponds) to a Dreling manager. The two men were expelled in 1919. Since 1933, the estate has belonged to the Bata shoe manufacturer from Zlin (ex-Czechoslovakia) which has set up its factories in Hellocourt, Moussey and Réchicourt-le-Château. Hellocourt was an independent municipality until 1885, when it was attached to the municipality of Maizières-lès-Vic. The current buildings, erected between 1890 and 1894, are thought to be the early work of the Karlsruhe architect Hermann Billing (1867-1946). The use of modern industrially produced materials such as cast iron and brick, the quality of the decor resulting from the rational use of materials and the concern for the functionality of the buildings contribute to making it an exceptional ensemble.
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