User:Pquen/Château des comtes de Mouscron

Château des Comtes, jewel of the civil heritage of Mouscron, knew through the centuries greatness and decline. From the 15th century onwards, the fief of Ramées distinguished itself by his beautiful fortress where the Lords of Mouscron lived. When this place was magnificent, the estate was made up of the castle (keep and main building of the most interior courtyard) and farm buildings of the farmyard. History The wars of conquest of Louis XIV put Mouscron on front lines and the castle suffered important damage. At the end of the 18th century, the Ennetières family started big work on the site: the filling of the moats, the repairing of the façade in the Tournai style with big casement windows in Louis XIV style… the fortress transformed itself into a pleasure manor. In 1898, the Lord’s estate was sold to a French industrialist and would be rented until 1961 by farmers. Ownership of the commune, the main building and the site have been listed since 1945 and 1973 respectively. Home unoccupied for too much time, there is nothing left from the interior setting up in Louis XIV style. Architecture The former brick main building rises up two storeys and five bays. The stone elements come from the stone quarries of Tournai. In the north rises up a pretty turret with a slate roof. In the south-east, near the kitchen, is the well. The buildings surrounding the farmyard are contemporary constructions/restorations that will be soon assigned to a touristic use.