Montmorency Castle

Montmorency Castle, locally known as Château de Montmorency, lies in the center of the village of Montigny-en-Ostrevent, in the Nord department in France.

Montmorency Castle was built in the mid-12th century by Robert I de Montigny. Then it consisted of a stone tower on a motte in a marshy and wooded area. The present gate building was added to the bailey in the 13th century.

During the Hundred Years' War Montmorency Castle was damaged. The castle remained in the hands of the descendants of Robert I until 1415 when Robert VII de Montigny was killed in the Battle of Agincourt. Then it went to the Hornes family and later the Montmorency family. These families rebuilt the castle into a more comfortable seigneurial residence instead of a military building. The Montmorency's added the brick top floor to the gate building during the 16th century. This top floor served as a dovecote.

In 1570 the castle was confiscated by Philip II of Spain from Floris de Montmorency. In 1598 it was returned to Floris' sister; Eléonore de Montmorency. The ownership of the Montmorency's however was disputed, so it was sold to Marguerite de Lalaing. She donated the castle in 1626 to the canonesses of Berlaymont.

In 1789, during the French Revolution, the castle was confiscated from the canonesses and sold in 1793 to the Dovillers family. They converted Montmorency Castle into a farm.

At present Montmorency Castle houses a restaurant and a riding stable. It can freely be visited. A very nice gate building.

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