Top 3 Castles around Tourcoing

Nice, rolling section with no traffic.

The Castle of the Counts is the only example of monumental civil architecture from before the 19th century in Mouscron. Four great families of Seigneurs succeeded one another here over six centuries. Today, on this vast estate, you can still admire the Tournai-style castle, as well as a farmyard surrounded by the remains of outbuildings from the 16th and 17th centuries, and a site surrounded by moats. A self-guided walk around the moats offers you the opportunity to explore the entire estate. Two major historical events have left a lasting mark on local tradition and folklore: the visit of Charles V, who spent the night in the castle, and the atrocities of the famous Hurlus, followers of Luther (during the Wars of Religion) who pillaged the region, occupied the castle for three months, and stole its furnishings. Source: visitwapi.be

However dilapidated the castle may be, the future promises improvement: The current owners of the castle, Pierre and Annie Moulin-Duthoit and their children, are responsible for its restoration, particularly Olivier Moulin, who wrote a thesis on this heritage at the end of his architectural studies. ...that's why you can see signs of construction work from a distance (approaching close is not permitted). Source: leershistorique.fr

The Château de Royères, probably around 1100, was a feudal motte with a wooden tower and a retractable walkway... which Havide de Néchin brought as a dowry to Lambert de Wattrelos. The inhabitants of Tournai submitted to Philip II Augustus. The Tournai region would belong to the French royal family for over 300 years (1187-1521). La Royère is located in the Château de Lille, in the Flanders region, on the hills of Leers and Néchin, on the edge of the Wattines forest, on the border with Tournaisis: it is the castle of the border. In 1227, it was probably a feudal motte with a stone tower that was purchased by Arnoul IV. Wealthier than the seller Hugues de Roubaix, he may have had Tournai's stone walls built. From 1500 onwards, the lords of Roubaix also became lords of La Royère through marriage: the de Werchin and the de Melun. Pierre de Melun, governor of Tournai, lord of Roubaix and La Royère, and a Protestant supporter, was considered civilly dead by Philip II, the Catholic king. His possessions passed to the Ligne family through Anne de Melun. As a supporter of the Edict of Nantes (Henry IV, 1598), Louis XIV returned La Royère to the de Melun family. This led to family disputes: the property first went to the de Ligne family and then back to the de Melun family. A Crombez from Tournai bought La Royère, 35 hectares (Popp map circa 1850). Miss Crombez de Remond de Montmort married Count Ferdinand Costa de Saint-Gérix de Beauregard… Everything was then sold to farmers. Source: leershistorique.fr

The Château de Flers, bearing the date "1661" on its facade, was originally the residence of the Lords of Flers. It was destroyed during the French Revolution of 1789, but not confiscated because it belonged at that time to a foreign nobleman, the Baron de Diesbach. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the château enjoyed a second life as a farm: the salon, apartment, and reception hall were converted into a barn, cowshed, and stables. In 1968, with a view to the development of a new town east of Lille, the château was expropriated by the state and, in 1973, entrusted to the Public Institution for the Development of the New Town of Lille-East. The municipality of Villeneuve-d'Ascq became the owner in 1986. They completed the restoration of the building, which had been entrusted from the outset to architect Maurice Salembier. After restoring its 17th-century appearance, the Château de Flers began a third life as a municipal building in 1991. Today, it houses various services, the tourist office, rooms for official receptions, and a museum. Source: Information board on site

Marcel Marlier Centre "Draw Me, Mart" https://www.mouscron.be/fr/centre-marcel-marlier/accueil

treat yourself

This historical monument, under the control of the Ministry of Defense, is the Citadel of Lille and the Museum of the Sedentary Artillerymen. It is called the Queen of Citadels, built by Vauban in 1670. The building is in the shape of a regular pentagon, reinforced by powerful bastions, within which the buildings are arranged in a star shape to form a large central courtyard. Around it and open to the public at all times is a beautiful park (with a zoo and a playground), but if you stay on the path, you walk along this star.