Flers Castle

Flers Castle, locally known as Château de Flers, lies in the town of Villeneuve-d'Ascq in the Nord department in France.

Construction of Flers Castle started sometime during the first half of the 17th century, probably on the site of an earlier manor. The castle was completed in 1661. It was then a property of the Kessel family, who were Lords of Flers. It came into their possession through marriage.

The castle passed through the hands of several families during the next hundred years. By 1770, it was owned by Marie Claire Josèphe de Baudequin who then married the Swiss Count Ladislas de Diesbach, an officer in the Swiss Guards Regiment in the service of the King of France. They modified the castle around 1787; removing mullioned windows, replacing French-style ceilings with coffered ceilings, adding new fireplaces, replacing the old drawbridge with the current stone one and adding the arcaded gallery.

During the French Revolution, Marie died and the Diesbach family returned to Switzerland, entrusting the care of the castle to a steward. Nevertheless, Flers Castle was devastated by revolutionaries. But, because it was owned by a foreigner, it was not confiscated.

In the course of the 19th century, the castle was transformed into a farm. The Diesbach family sold it around 1937, while it was still being used as a farm. Later, during the 20th century, the dilapidated castle came into the hands of the municipality. It was then restored and now houses the local tourist office and a small local history museum.

Flers Castle can be visited, but was closed when I came by.

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