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Key figures

Origin and history

Flers Castle, located in Villeneuve-d'Ascq in the Northern Department, is a typical example of 17th century Flemish rural architecture. Originally called "Mastaing Estate", it was mentioned as early as 1603 in the album of the Duke of Croÿ in the form of a seigneurial building. Its current construction was completed in 1661 for Bonne Françoise de Haynin and her husband Michel de Kessel, lords of Flers, after replacing or remodeling an earlier residence. The estate remained in Kessel's family until 1747, when he passed to their cousin Philippe André de Baudequin.

In the 18th century, the castle underwent major architectural changes around 1787: the removal of the sills, the replacement of French ceilings with caissons, the addition of new chimneys, and the modernization of the drawbridge. During the French Revolution, although devastated, he escaped confiscation thanks to his status as a foreign property (then belonging to the Swiss Count Ladislas de Diesbach). It was converted into a farm in the 19th century and was bought in 1936 by Paul Delesalle-Dewas, before being saved from state demolition in 1969 and restored between 1986 and 1991.

The castle, which has been listed as a historical monument in 1951, has been home to the archaeological museum of Villeneuve-d'Ascq, located in its basement since 1991. This museum showcases local collections in archaeology, history and ethnography, while the ground floor houses the tourist office. The only preserved north and west wings bear witness to its original U-shaped plan, partially demolished. The restoration work of the 1970s and 1980s preserved its Flemish character, including the arcade gallery and the caisson ceilings.

The castle owes its name to the historic village of Flers-lez-Lille, now integrated in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. Its alternative name, "Farm d'en Bas", distinguishes it from the "Château d'en Haut" (now the Farm d'en Haut), also owned by the Diesbach. These two buildings reflect the local seigneurial organization, where noble families often had several estates nearby. The castle of Flers thus embodies both an architectural heritage and a witness to the social and economic changes of the region, from the Old Regime to the present day.

Future

Four basement rooms have been built into an archaeological museum since 1991.

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