Château de Nieppe

Can you imagine a treasure buried right here? Local legend claims a treasure lies hidden in the grounds of the Château de Nieppe, buried at the foot of a tree. The Château de Nieppe stands before us, a silent witness to centuries of Nieppe’s history. The original Château de Nieppe was a Flemish Gothic style castle, built in 1610 by Philippe de Vicq. He gifted it to his nephew, Roland, in 1624. The Château de Nieppe, with its stepped gables, was depicted in Sanderus’ Flandria Illustrata, complete with plumes of smoke rising from the chimneys. This was an artistic tradition, symbolizing a lavish reception and feast. One of the rooms in the original Château de Nieppe was uniquely decorated. Its walls were covered in colorful shells. The Château de Nieppe saw tumultuous times in its early years, enduring requisitions and pillages during the 17th century. Locals feared marauders more than armies. They fortified the church and Château de Nieppe whenever soldiers left. In the 18th century, Marie Le Blan, widow Ghesquière, acquired the estate. Her family lived at Château de Nieppe until the revolution forced them to flee in 1792. Instead of being demolished, the Château de Nieppe became a barracks, storehouse, and even a prison. Sadly, it suffered great damage. The revolutionary period left it in such disrepair that it was cheaper to rebuild than renovate. The old Château de Nieppe was torn down and a new one rose on its original foundations in 1802. This new “Maison Blanche” was an Italian-style manor. The Château de Nieppe was occupied again during the Hundred Days. Later, the Le Boucq de Ternas family inherited the property. During World War I, the Château de Nieppe housed officers. It was visited by King George V and even served as a military tribunal, where a British soldier was sentenced to death and executed in the park. The Château de Nieppe, severely damaged by shelling, was rebuilt in 1920, only to be demolished again in 1925. The Château de Nieppe you see today was constructed on the 1610 foundations and was inhabited by 1930. The town acquired the Château de Nieppe and its surrounding park in 1974. Since 2000, the Château de Nieppe has been home to the local history museum, showcasing Nieppe’s rich past, intricately linked with the Château. Look closely at the entrance gates. The column shafts are remnants of the old church, destroyed in the First World War, connecting the present Château de Nieppe to Nieppe’s past.