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All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

  2. Patrimoine
  3. Hauts-de-France
  4. Pas-de-Calais
  5. 62770 au Parcq

  6. Château des Ducs de Bourgogne, known as Château de Vieil-Hesdin

Château des Ducs de Bourgogne, known as Château de Vieil-Hesdin dans le Pas-de-Calais

Pas-de-Calais

Château des Ducs de Bourgogne, known as Château de Vieil-Hesdin

    1 Les Vieux Châteaux
    62770 au Parcq
Photo de Château des Ducs de Bourgogne, known as Château de Vieil-Hesdin

Timeline

Moyen Âge central
Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
XIe siècle
Initial construction
1119-1237
Changes in owners
fin XIIIe siècle
Expansion of the park
1384-1469
Apogee under the Dukes of Burgundy
1553
Destruction by Charles Quint
1858
Rediscovered ruins
2005
Protection of remains
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

As an archaeological reserve, the remains of the castle, in total (CZ 36 to 38): inscription by decree of 29 July 2005

Key figures

Robert II d’Artois - Count of Artois Expands the park and installs a statue of Louis IX.
Mahaut d’Artois - Countess of Artois and Burgundy Decorate the castle of ecu and lily flowers.
Philippe le Hardi - Duke of Burgundy Turns the castle into a princely residence (1391).
Philippe le Bon - Duke of Burgundy Wife Isabelle de Portugal at the castle (1430).
Charles Quint - Emperor of the Holy Empire Order the destruction of the castle (1553).
Clovis Normand - Architect Rediscovers and searches the ruins (1858).

Origin and history

The castle of Hesdin, built in the 11th century in Vieil-Hesdin (now at the Parcq), originally belonged to the local lords, then to the Counts of Flanders (1119-1180), the Kings of France (1180-1237), and finally to the Counts of Artois. This pentagonal castle, with five towers and a central dungeon, covered five hectares. Its park, enlarged by Robert II d'Artois, housed automatons, gardens, and curiosities such as a maze or a menagerie.

The park was a showcase of Comtal power, hosting major events such as the wedding of Philippe le Bon and Isabelle de Portugal. Mahaut d'Artois installed armored shields and heads of kings of France there, while Robert II placed a statue of Louis IX there. The castle, damaged several times (1313, 1350, 1355), was finally razed in 1553 by Charles Quint, who rebuilt a new town nearby.

The remains, rediscovered in 1858 by architect Clovis Normand, were searched and classified as an archaeological reserve in 2005. The site today bears witness to the opulence of the Dukes of Burgundy and their cultural influence, especially through the machines and sumptuous decorations of the park, described in medieval archives.

Historical sources, such as the works of Anne van Buren Hagoian or François Duceppe-Lamarre, underline the importance of the park as a space for hunting, recreation and political representation. The park's automatons and "machines", referred to in 14th century inventories, made it a unique place in Europe, mixing technical innovation and aristocratic symbolism.

The castle also illustrates regional conflicts: its destruction in 1553 marked the end of Vieil-Hesdin, replaced by a new city. The 19th century excavations and recent protections have preserved key elements, such as the foundations of towers or traces of the park's hydraulics.

External links

Page Wikipedia
Page Monumentum