Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Vandamme Castle, located in Cassel in the Northern Department, is a former ecclesiastical property confiscated during the French Revolution. Acquired in 1794 by General Dominique-Joseph-René Vandamme, it was renamed La Frégate because of its boat-shaped architecture, unique for the time. Vandamme, Count of Unsebourg and peer of France, made major changes, including a floor with portholes and a gazebo overlooking the English coast. The interior decorations, composed of marbles, woodwork and tapestries, as well as the English gardens, make it a sumptuous place, admired by the contemporaries.

The castle was looted several times in the early 19th century. In 1814, the Russian Cossacks, led by General Geismar, ransacked him and burned him in retaliation for Vandamme's exploits in Russia. In 1815, local crowds invade the estate twice, stealing wine and forcing the army to intervene. Despite these trials, the castle remains a symbol of imperial grandeur, with a colonnade surmounted by a pediment decorated with Napoleonic eagle.

Ranked a historic monument in 1980, Vandamme Castle is now at risk. Available in 2017 after the death of its owner, it rapidly degrades: invasive vegetation, collapsed roofs, cracked walls and squatter occupancy. Local associations, such as the Imperial Circle of Flanders, are trying to mobilize donors and investors to save it. Its critical state reflects the challenges of preserving private heritage, despite its historical and architectural importance.

The history of the castle is also marked by praiseworthy testimonies, such as that of Hyacinthe Corne, reported in 1983 by La Voix du Nord, highlighting the beauty of the places. Architectural features, such as portholes and ship shape, make it an exceptional building. Yet, without a committed owner or grant agreement, its restoration remains uncertain, despite the regional attachment to this emblematic heritage of Flanders.

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