Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Estruval finds its origins in a hunting lodge belonging to the Estruval family, located near the remains of the famous Hesdin Park, destroyed in the 16th century by Charles Quint. This estate, transmitted by marriage under Louis XIV to the governor of Hesdin, was profoundly remodelled at the beginning of the eighteenth century: the existing buildings were transformed around 1705-1715, a lane of lime trees was planted, and two entrance pavilions and studs were built. These developments marked the desire to create a modern seigneurial residence, integrating architecture and organized landscapes.

The French Revolution was a blow to the estate, which was set on fire before being redeemed as national property by Mr. Thérouanne in 1804. The latter undertook a reconstruction similar to the castle, while the park was traced back in 1822, thus preserving the spirit of the place. In 1880, the Le Gentil family acquired the property, which it still occupies today, perpetuating agricultural activities and the breeding of horse racing. This castle thus illustrates the architectural and social transformations of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, mixing aristocratic heritage and post-revolutionary adaptations.

The protections granted in 2000 by the Historical Monuments concern not only the facades and roofs of the castle and its outbuildings (pigeons, farm), but also emblematic landscape elements: the driveway of lime trees leading to the castle, the driveway of beech trees known as the Route de Thérouanne, and the entire park. These measures highlight the heritage value of an ensemble of interlacing architecture, history and nature, reflecting the tastes and uses of the regional elites throughout the centuries.

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