Prison de la Motte Castrale

Name: Prison de la Motte Castrale
Address: Place Sithieu, Saint-Omer, 62500, FRANCE

Archaeology, cave, On terrace, Reconstruction, Fort, Ruins and remains, Tunnel shelter, History in Saint-Omer

The motte castrale, one of the town's founding sites, was built in the 10th century to protect the collegiate church of Saint-Omer. The town's first castle was founded by the Counts of Flanders, first with a wooden tower and then a stone keep, and was later the residence of the lord of Saint-Omer.
Transformed into a military prison in the 18th century, the site is now only open for festivals, special events and certain guided tours of Saint-Omer's historic centre.