The building of the castle began in 1297 with the knights of Armentières. The castle has been extended and renovated during the following centuries. The Grand Logis which is the oldest part of the castle, is 35 meters long and 13 meters wide with at least four towers, one at each corner. A defensive wall on the north of the building was erected in the 14th century.
The Passage Tower was built in the 15th century. With its drawbridge, which does not exist anymore, the Passage Tower was in charge of checking the entrance of the castle.
In the 16th century, appartments were built in the courtyard. It is nowadays the weakest part of the castle due to the nature of its stones.
During the 17th century, the castle was rented by the farmer and was not used as a house any longer. Thanks to this, it has not suffered of any destruction during the French Revolution. But because of the lack of maintenance, the castle was very fragile already in the 19th and 20th century. Its corner-towers fell down at the end of the 19th century. During WWI, the castle was a military camp for the French army. Some bullets have been found in the castle. During the war, the roof of the main building was blown away. The castle was then classified in 1921 as a Historical Monument.
On its facade, the castle has two small towers with a stone roof, which is rare for civil architecture. The castle is also original with its stairs within its wall, and its covered way fully covered.
Our goal is 18 700 euros. This money will be used to repair the Dungeon's roof and windows and the roof of the small stairtower. The Dungeon is unique for its hourseshoe-shape and its three-level wooden frame, which was re-built thanks to World War I's indemnity.
The castle needs emergency works. It has been almost 15 years that we have been doing our best to save it. But in 2013, one of the small tower of the facade fell down with two third of the Renaissance facade.
Together, we can make the Dungeon live and not fall down as the facade did! Right now, the rain is already pouring through the broken tiles and on the wooden frame.
The crowdfunding campaign is meant to finance the works on the Dungeon's roof (almost 15% of the roof has to be changed). If we reach the first step, then we can put a roof on the stairtower, which leads to the Dungeon. If we reach that step we can then put windows on the Dungeon.
The Dungeon was built in the 16th century. It contains 3 living floors, plus 1 level half underground, and its remarkable wooden frame built on three levels.
These emergency works are part of a larger work program which aims at the renovation of the Dungeon. This larger program will cost 290 000 €. The French region of Hauts de France and the French department Aisne will pay 70 % of it.
Step 1: 6 500 € - Replacement of the damaged tiles of the Dungeon and of the rotten part of the wooden frame
Almost 15% of the tiles have to be changed.
Details:
Total step 1: 6 500 €
Step 2: 12 500 € - Small roof on the Renaissance Stairtower
The Renaissance Stairtower used to lead to the Dungeon, but it is nowadays in a bad condition. The purpose of this step is to lay a roof on the stairtower to protect this tower and to make it recover its function.
Details:
Total step 2: 6 000 €
Step 3: 18 700 € - Put windows in the Dungeon (4 big and 3 small)
The last step is to fully close the Dungeon. When we have bought the castle in 2004, the Dungeon was totally open. Pigeons were living in the tower and the wind was destroying the roof. We succeeded in temporarily closing the Dungeon, but it would be better to put real windows instead.
Details:
Total step 3: 6 200 €
The work will go on in 2018 - 2019 and should last 8 months approximatively.
We will let you know the latest news on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and per email ;)
We are the Kerekes family. We bought the castle in 2004. We are passionate by old castles and history and we want to save the castle of Armentières.
When we arrived in the castle in 2004, it was fully recovered by lush greenery. Trees were growing within the walls. We had to take care of the vegetation first before having our first renovation works.
Some friends are helping us in our task. Alain helps in almost everything. Philippe helps to drive machines and build some wooden structures. Luc helped in putting windows on the Passage Tower.
The castle is often open to groups: schools, hikers, unions, tourists...
Every year, the castle is open for the European Heritage Days. Marie and François are dressed like middle-ages Lady and Lord and give you a guided tour of the castle. Sophie serves coffee and crepes, some members of the association The Friends of Armentières like Pierre-Georges, Christelle, Rachel, Maryvonne give a tour to the visitors. The "Compagnie du Crépuscule" re-create in the castle a mercenary camp and offers different activities.
The Chapel has been restaured and covered in 2017.
Péronne d’Armentières. She was the muse of the poet from Reims Guillaume de Machaut in le Veoir dict.
Jean II Juvénal des Ursins (1388 – 1473) Jean II was the lawyer and chaplain of the French King. He was the bishop of Beauvais right after Pierre Cauchon (the one who judged Joan of Arc). He became bishop of Laon and then archbishop of Reims. He was in charge of the rehabilitation of Joan of Arc.
Louis de Conflans d’Armentières (1711 – 1774). Musketeer at 15 years old en 1726, he fought at the War of succession of Poland, at the War of succession of Austria, and at the Seven Years War. He became marshal of France in 1768.
M. Pellet de Saint Maurice. Owner of the castle in the French TV programm « Chefs-d’œuvre en péril », on ruined monuments.
DRAC des Hauts de France
Département de l'Aisne
Thank you in advance for your gifts and sharing !
We hope to see you soon in the castle !
https://www.facebook.com/chate...
https://www.instagram.com/chat...
https://twitter.com/chdarmenti...
Our email address: [email protected]
