Château du Vert-Bois et son parc

On the border between Bondues and Marcq?en?Bar?ul, the Château du Vert?Bois is a place where history and nature seem to have been in dialogue for centuries. The Fondation Prouvost Septentrion, created in 1975 by Anne and Albert Prouvost, manages the estate. Heirs to a long line of textile industrialists, themselves passionate about travel, art and culture, they entrusted the Fondation with the château, its 60-hectare park and a village dedicated to arts and crafts. The origins of the estate go back much further: its existence is attested as far back as the 15th century. The current buildings, however, bear witness to different periods, with a 17th-century conciergerie and an 18th-century château. The date 1743 on the porch pediment refers to a major transformation, not the original construction. The janitor's lodge is a perfect example of the regionalist style, combining brick, stone and a high dovecote tower, a feature you'll find in many of the region's traditional farmhouses. As you stroll through the park, you'll discover an exceptional landscape of trees, including Norway maples, liquidambars, purple beeches, paulownias and Japanese sophoras. Sculptures line the paths between these rare species, inviting you to take a contemplative stroll in a timeless setting.