Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Noordpeene, located in the northern department, came into being in 1485 when the family of the Tower had it built on the foundations of an older building, destroyed shortly before. This castle is considered one of the oldest in Flanders. Occupied by this family until 1677, it was sold after the Battle of the Peene, when Louis Alexandre de la Tour refused to become the subject of the King of France after Louis XIV's victory over the coalition troops of the Netherlands, Spain and England, led by William of Orange.

In 1736, the castle passed into the hands of Joseph Duvet, a rich bourgeois who became his owner. The latter marked local history by becoming the first mayor of Noordpeene in 1790. The building undergoes architectural changes, including the reconstruction of its front façade in the eighteenth century, characterized by openings on two levels and a triangular pediment carved above the main entrance.

During World War II, the castle, occupied by the Germans, suffered a fire that destroyed a large part of its woodwork. Despite this damage, it retains remarkable historical elements, such as the coat of arms of the Tower family on the balcony of the front façade, or the murals of Alexis Bafcop, 19th century artist, representing the four seasons in the living room. The castle was finally listed as a historic monument in 2016, recognizing its heritage value.

The thirteen-metre-wide moats surround a seven-hectare park, while the rear façade preserves Cassel's stone parts, bearing witness to the different periods of construction. These architectural details, combined with its turbulent history, make the Castle of Noordpeene a living witness to the political and cultural transformations of Flanders.

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