Cirey Castle in the 20th century

In 1892, the Château de Cirey was acquired by Armand Viellard, a major industrialist in the Belfort region. Five years later, his daughter Berthe Viellard married Viscount Jean-Hugues de Salignac-Fénelon and brought the Château de Cirey as her dowry, thus bringing the estate into the Salignac-Fénelon family.

Jean-Hugues de Salignac Fénelon pursued a military career, becoming an officer in the 1st Dragoon Regiment. Simultaneously, he entered politics, being elected to the General Council and then to the National Assembly representing Haute-Saône in 1898. Under his leadership, the château underwent several transformations, particularly to the north wing. Inside, the mezzanine levels were removed to increase the height of the rooms. Outside, the façades were enhanced with new dormer windows, a watchtower at the north corner, and an imperial dome topped with a lantern at the top of the stair tower.

On September 17, 1913, Viscount Jean-Hugues de Salignac-Fénelon died at the Château de Cirey. His wife, Berthe, then took over the management of the estate, as their children were still too young. She oversaw the upkeep of the property until her death in 1946.

The castle then passed to their son, Count Jean de Salignac-Fénelon, who continued to maintain the estate with his wife Simone Azaria.

Upon Jean's death in 1965, their son, Count Hugues de Salignac-Fénelon, became the owner of the château. With his wife, Alix de Mougins-Roquefort, he made a pivotal decision for the château's future: to open Cirey to the public in order to contribute to its upkeep and preservation. This initiative marked the château's entry into a new era, where the transmission of heritage is accompanied by sharing with the public, thus ensuring the continuity of this historically significant site to this day.