Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The mansion of Wierre-au-Bois finds its origins in the seigneury of the same name, attested as early as 1113. In the 15th century, the Bouverie family, including Jean de la Bouverie, Sénéchal du Boulonnais, erected the oldest parts of the castle. This place became a home of Protestantism in the 16th century, reflecting the religious tensions of the time. The renovations of the 17th and 18th centuries, including the entrance body and the house body, gradually transformed the mansion, while its acquisition by the De Bonnières family in the 18th century marked a turning point in its history.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the estate welcomed literary critic Charles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve, cousin of Les De Bonnières, who spent his summers there until 1823. His stays inspire detailed descriptions in his novel Volupté, as well as writings evoking the castle and its atmosphere. The manor house, whose facades, roofs, commons and remains of the feudal motte have been protected since 2002, preserves architectural and literary traces of five centuries of history, from medieval lords to romantic intellectuals.

The dependencies added to the 19th century complete a collection of medieval heritage, classical transformations and Protestant memory. The accuracy of its location remains moderate (level 6/10), but its official address, 657 Route de Desvres à Wierre-au-Bois (Pas-de-Calais), makes it a site anchored in the landscape of Hauts-de-France. Private property, its access and current uses (visits, rentals, guest rooms) are not specified in the available sources.

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