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Origin and history

The castle of Esnes, located in the department of the North (Hautes-de-France), came into being in 1007 when Alard d'Esnes, the first of the 12 pairs of Cambresis, ordered its construction. This castle, originally conceived as a border fortress between France and the Holy Roman Empire until 1678, passes into the hands of several noble families. The lineage of the Landas d'Esnes, derived from the marriage of Alix de Beauvoir with Gérard de Landas, inherited in the 12th century. Alard de Croisille, marrying the Alix heiress around 1260, adopted the name of Esnes and modified the family coat of arms, marking a major dynastic transition.

Over the centuries, the Lords of Esnes played a key military and political role, serving both the Count of Hainaut and the King of France. John I died at the Battle of Poitiers in 1358, while Robert d'Esnes, governor of Coucy Castle in 1411, resisted a siege three months before surrendering for lack of food. In 1603 the castle was given to Jean de Beauffremez, then by alliance with the Marquis d'Assignies and the d'Estutt d'Assay, who had remained owners for a thousand years. During the Revolution, the castle became a farm, then a German prison for Russian soldiers during the First World War.

The architecture of the castle reflects its successive transformations. From the 11th century remain two round towers surrounding the porch, a large medieval tower (XIIIth–XIVth centuries) and partially filled moat. The west facade, decorated with typical 17th-century diamond tips, and the well-preserved tithe barn testify to subsequent developments. Inside, the large tower preserves vaulted chimneys, ancient graffiti (from the fourteenth century), and a shield with arms of the Prince of Salm, occupying Spanish from the seventeenth century. Two stone sundials, dated from the 17th century, adorn the clock turret.

Ranked a historic monument in October 1971, the castle of Esnes combines medieval defensive elements (murder, walls of 2 meters thick) and classical additions (fronton of the eighteenth century). Although transformed into a castle-farm since the 19th century, there remains an exceptional testimony of feudal history and architectural changes in the North of France. Today, parts, such as the west wing and the dovecote, are open to visit, revealing a military, seigneurial and agricultural heritage.

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