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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Robersart Castle, located in Wambrechies in the northern department, has its origins in the 10th century as a seigneurial residence. At the present location was initially the castle of theirs, built in the 13th century, before collapsing in the 17th century due to the instability of soils near the Deûle. Its reconstruction in 1760, commissioned by Louis Joseph de Broide, local lord, gave it its characteristic "U" shape, combining Renaissance style and subsequent adaptations.

In the 19th century, the castle changed hands on several occasions: bought in 1810 by the Viscount of Quévy, mayor of Wambrechies for 40 years, he underwent major improvements. In 1866 his niece, Countess Juliette de Robersart, inherited and became the last chestnut. The building, gradually abandoned, saw its Renaissance wing collapse in 1900, the year of its death. The same period marked a turning point with his transfer to the parish in 1912, transforming the place into a school and patronage until 1959.

The municipality acquired the castle in 1982 for a symbolic franc, launching a colossal restoration in phases until 2019. The work includes the stabilization of foundations (concrete pits 15 metres deep), the reconstruction of the right wing after an explosion in 1997, and the complete renovation of the interiors. At the same time, the 9-hectare park, with its remarkable gardens, is being renovated with an educational garden and a rose garden of 75 varieties, becoming a green lung for the city.

Since the 1990s, the castle has housed cultural and social facilities: the Doll and Ancient Toy Museum (opened in 1998), a crèche, a music school, and local associations (dance, yoga, choir). These activities, coupled with events organised by the association Save the Castle of Robersart (created in the 1970s), make it a central place of community life.

The history of the castle reflects the social transformations of Wambrechies: from a medieval seigneurial residence to a multifunctional public space, to an educational role under the aegis of the Church. The 30-year restoration works illustrate the municipal commitment to preserve this heritage while adapting to contemporary needs.

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