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Origin and history

The castle of Flers, also known as Ferme d'en Bas, is a seigneurial building located in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern department. Built in the 17th century, it replaces an earlier building mentioned in 1603 in the album of the Duke of Croÿ. This castle is characteristic of rural Flemish architecture, with its two wings in right angle and moat.

In 1661, Bonne Françoise de Haynin, wife of Michel de Kessel, received the estate in dowry. Kessel's family retained the castle until 1747, when he passed to Philippe André de Baudequin. In 1770 he was inherited by Swiss Count Ladislas de Diesbach, who did not reside there. The castle underwent architectural changes around 1787, such as the suppression of the sills and the modernization of the drawbridge.

During the French Revolution, the castle, although damaged, escapes confiscation thanks to its status as a foreign property. In the 19th century, it was transformed into a farm. In 1951, it was included in the inventory of Historic Monuments. After restorations between 1986 and 1991, it now houses the tourist office of Villeneuve-d'Ascq and an archaeological museum.

The castle is composed of two wings in right angle, with a third wing disappeared. The facades and roofs, as well as moat, have been protected since 1951. The restoration works preserved its original architecture, while adapting it to modern uses such as public reception and temporary exhibitions.

The museum of the castle of Flers, located in the basements, presents archaeological collections and exhibitions on local history and regional ethnography. This place reflects the evolution of a seigneurial estate into a cultural and tourist space, while preserving its Flemish architectural heritage.

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