Presumed construction period Moyen Âge (Xe-XIIe siècle) (≈ 1125)
Feudal and regional defensive context.
25 juillet 1979
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 25 juillet 1979 (≈ 1979)
Official protection of the motte and lower yard.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Feudal motte with adjoining bassyard (Case AN 100, 104, 109): inscription by order of 25 July 1979
Origin and history
Hazebrouck's feudal motte is a historic monument located in the commune of Hazebrouck in the department of Nord (Hautes-de-France). This site, characteristic of medieval defensive architecture, consists of a main motte and an adjoining bassyard. It bears witness to the local fortification systems used between the 10th and 12th centuries, when feudal lords organized their power around these strategic structures.
The motte was officially recognized and protected by an inscription under the Historical Monuments on 25 July 1979, covering the cadastral plots AN 100, 104 and 109. Its location, specified by GPS coordinates, is estimated to be "very satisfactory" (note 8/10), and it is close to Rue du Pont Belge. Although available sources (Monumentum, Merimée base) do not detail its specific history, this type of monument played a central role in the territorial and military organization of the Middle Ages, serving as a checkpoint and refuge for local populations.
Feudal mottes, such as that of Hazebrouck, were often accompanied by wooden ditches and palisades, forming a modest but effective defensive ensemble. Their construction reflected the political tensions and protection needs of rural communities in the face of the frequent conflicts of the time. Today, these vestiges offer a concrete overview of power dynamics and medieval construction techniques in northern France.
