Liettres Castle

Liettres Castle, locally known as Château de Liettres, lies next to the village of the same name, in the Pas-de-Calais department in France.

Liettres Castle was probably built some years before 1479 by Sir Simon de Luxembourg, provost of the church of Saint-Omer. In that year it was burned by the progressing army of Maximilian I of Austria.

In 1542 Liettres Castle was again burned and partly destroyed by the troops of the Duke of Vendôme. Shortly thereafter the castle was bought by Jean de Zomberghe, after which it remained in the hands of his descendants.

Liettres Castle was built on an artificial plot of dry ground in the marshy valley of the La Laquette stream, which also fed its moats. During the course of centuries it underwent a couple of transformations. In 1720 the main building was rebuilt. It consists of several buildings forming a square with strong cylindrical towers. It has walls of 2.5 meters up to 5 meters thick in some towers.

At present the castle is privately owned and inhabited. It can not be visited apart from Open Heritage Days sometimes. Too bad I couldn't get closer to make some better pictures, but I was somewhat chased off by a rather unfriendly countess.

Very nearby lies Créminil Castle. It is really within viewing distance; rather peculiar having two medieval castles built so close together.

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