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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de Coutant, located in Saint-Hilaire-sur-Helpe in the department of the North, is a monument whose majority of the current construction dates from 1714. It was built by François de la Combe, Marshal of the camps and armies of the King, also director of the Hainaut fortifications under Vauban. The latter was responsible for the fortifications of Avesnes and Maubeuge and had acquired the estate in 1696. The oldest elements, like a round tower, date back to the 13th century, while some masonry details date back to the 16th century.

The castle changed hands several times: in 1721 he passed to Jean le Brunqui, regent of the Royal College of Avesnes, then to Jean Baptiste Cordier de Caudry. In the 19th century, Malzine's Recq family became its owner until 1946, when it was bought by industrialist Paul Delannoy. Since the 2000s, he has belonged to Master Landmann. The U-shaped building, with three wings and four towers, combines materials such as limestone, blue stone, pink bricks and slate.

The Château de Coutant was listed as a historic monument on 28 April 1947, including moat, vegetable garden pavilion, estate and pond. Before 1875, the park was surrounded by walls and accessible by a drawbridge, of which remains remains. The farmhouse, dating from the 17th century, completes this architectural complex marked by various influences, from medieval fortifications to additions of the 19th century.

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