Construction of the castle 4e quart XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1887)
Building in brick and stone.
Fin XIXe siècle
Development of the park
Development of the park Fin XIXe siècle (≈ 1995)
Addition of an English park.
19 avril 2006
Monument protection
Monument protection 19 avril 2006 (≈ 2006)
Registration for Historic Monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The facades and roofs of the castle, including the two English courtyards; the park surrounding the castle, as well as its fences, its aisles, the basin and its water supply, the two vegetable gardens (cad. La Capelle-lès-Boulogne A 959, 143, 146, placed Le Bourg ; Pernes-lès-Boulogne B 220, 221, placed Haut Penleu): inscription by order of 19 April 2006
Key figures
Dumont de Courset - Botanist and landscaper
Initial park designer.
Eugène Houlet - Landscape architect
Author of the arrangements at the end of the 19th century.
Origin and history
Conteval Castle, located in La Capelle-lès-Boulogne in the Hauts-de-France, is a residence built in the late eighteenth century. This monument is distinguished by its brick and stone architecture, as well as its two English courtyards on the side façades, a rare feature in the Boulonnais region. The building dominates an amphitheatre park, designed to open onto the surrounding countryside, and whose initial layout is attributed to the botanist Dumont de Courset, known for his work in landscape.
At the end of the 19th century, the park was enriched by the addition of an English park and a large vegetable garden, works by landscape architect Eugene Houlet. These developments have completed the landscaped set, combining aesthetics and functionality. The castle and its park, including facades, roofs, courtyards, alleyways, ponds and vegetable gardens, were protected by an inscription under the Historic Monuments in 2006. This recognition underscores the heritage value of the building and its surroundings, witness to an era marked by the influence of English gardens in France.
The address of the castle, according to the Merimée base, is the 18 National road to La Capelle-lès-Boulogne, although approximate GPS coordinates also suggest 124 Avenue de la Forêt. This duality reflects the uncertainties related to the precise location of the monument, noted as "a priori satisfactory" in the available sources. The castle, with its protected elements, illustrates the evolution of architectural and landscape tastes between the 18th and 19th centuries, while remaining anchored in its rural territory.
