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Origin and history

The castle of Potelle, also called the castle of Potelles, is a feudal castle built around 1290 by Willes (Gilles) of Mortagne, local lord. Located in the northern department, it was a strong place of Hainaut, involved in the political conflicts of the time. His first owner, Gilles de Mortagne, took part in an expedition to England in 1326 to support Isabelle de France and her son, future Edward III. The castle, marked by robust defensive architecture, was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt after sieges or fires, notably in 1477, 1654, 1712 and 1793.

In 1433, after the execution of Gilles II de Mortagne for treason against Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, the castle was confiscated and then attributed to Antoine de Croÿ. He was redeemed in 1436 by Jeanne de Hennin, sister of the beggar. In 1491 Antoine de Mortagne sold it to Jean Carondelet, Grand Chancellor of Flanders and Burgundy, who undertook his restoration. His grandson, Ferry Carondelet, and his wife Catherine d'Esnes, embellished the castle in the 16th century, adding an arcade gallery dated 1541. Ferry Carondelet, advisor to Marguerite of Austria, was an influential figure of his time.

The castle preserves remarkable medieval elements, such as a castle from the 13th to 14th centuries, moat fed by the Rhonell, and a chapel moved inside the enclosure in 1519 to protect it from looting. This chapel, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, houses a 17th century glory beam classified as a historical monument. The site, still privately owned, was restored in 1817 by the Chanoine de Carondelet before being passed on to its descendants.

Architecturally, the castle combines robustness and elegance: carved sandstone walls, cylindrical towers, murderous towers, and sled windows. The inner courtyard, open to the park in the 18th century, reveals a medieval prison in a round tower, accessible by an eye of vault. The portico of the châtelet, decorated with the arms of Ferry Carondelet and his wife (1541), bears witness to the Renaissance transformations. Despite the repeated destruction, the castle has always been rebuilt on its old foundations.

Ranked a historic monument in 1944, the Castle of Potelle illustrates the evolution of a medieval fortress as a seigneurial residence, while keeping its original defensive appearance. Today, there remains an emblematic example of the feudal heritage of the Hauts-de-France, opened on an ad hoc basis at events such as the Journées du Patrimoine, where medieval activities are organized by the Tempus Medialis association.

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