Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The castle of Esquelbecq, located in the department of Nord (Hauts-de-France), is one of the last Flemish castles preserved in the region. Built on a quadrilateral plan with eight towers and sprockets, it is surrounded by wide moat. The estate extends over seven hectares, including a Flemish garden (17th century) and a landscaped park. Its imposing architecture (800 m2 living space) overlooks the village square, facing a church of medieval origin (Xth century).

The first traces of the seigneury date back to the 13th century, but the major reconstruction of the castle occurred after the Dutch War of Independence (late 16th century). The dates engraved on the frame (1590 on the commandory, 1606 on the dovecote) attest to this period. The estate passed into the hands of noble families: d'Hallewyn, then Valentin de Pardieu (Governor of Gravelines, died in 1595), who left the castle to his nephew Philippe Levasseur de Guernonval in 1592. The family of Guernonval remained the owner until the early 19th century, despite the damage caused by the Revolution.

In the 19th century, the castle, in a state of advanced degradation, was bought in 1821 by Louis Colombier-Batteur, a textile industrialist. It restores the estate, raises the watchtower and creates the landscaped park, doubling its area. The castle then passed to the Bergerot family (1851–1941), awarded for the maintenance of the garden with compartments. Occupied by the Germans during World War II, he was enrolled in the Inventory of Historical Monuments in 1944. A partial collapse in 1984 (donjon and north wing) made him uninhabitable, despite his final classification in 1987.

Since the 2000s, the Tamer-Morael family (owner since 1946) has undertaken major restorations: reconstruction of the north wing (2000s), restoration of roofs (2015). In 2016, the gardens opened to the public, followed in 2018 by a part of the north wing, including marble salons and the Four Seasons, accompanied by a historical exhibition. The castle is also represented on a French stamp issued in 1978.

Architecturally, the castle illustrates the evolution of Flemish styles, with defensive elements (doves, towers) and landscape developments from the 17th to 18th centuries. Its history reflects the political upheavals of the region, from the Spanish-Dutch conflicts to the military occupations of the 20th century. Today, there is still a rare testimony of the Flemish castral heritage in France, which is being developed in tourism.

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