What is a feudal motte?

A motte is an artificial earthen mound, typical of the 11th and 12th centuries, often associated with a fortified outer court. It served as the base for a wooden or stone tower that symbolized the lord's authority over the territory.

Can I visit the motte at Bailleul?

The site has no organized tourist facilities. It remains an archaeological feature in the landscape, and access depends on the conditions of the surrounding land.

When was the motte protected?

The feudal motte at Outtersteene was listed as a historical monument on 23 February 1979.

Motte féodale de Bailleul

Bailleul

Access

No visits on recordNo opening hours or ticketing found

Where: Bailleul

To make a day of it

This week in the agenda

Motte féodale de Bailleul stands in Bailleul (Nord), in the Hauts-de-France region of France. The building is registered as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: Middle Ages). The building is privately owned and no visits are on record.

The feudal motte of Bailleul is a medieval earthwork located in the hamlet of Outtersteene in northern France. This raised fortification, protected as a historical monument, exemplifies the defensive architecture of medieval strongholds in the Nord region. The earthen mound would have originally supported a wooden fortification or palisade structure.

What to know

This is an open-air archaeological site with no existing structures to visit and no visitor facilities.
The monument has been protected since 1979 but has no organized opening hours or admission fees.
Access to the site and visiting conditions depend on the ownership status of the land where the motte is located.

Where this château is

Bailleul · Nord · Hauts-de-France

Map of the area around Motte féodale de Bailleul

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Bailleul, Nord

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Registered historic monument (inscrit); Mérimée record PA00107359
Period of construction: Middle Ages

Itineraries

Castles near Lille and the Belgian border: 2 days by car

Frequently asked

What is a feudal motte?: A motte is an artificial earthen mound, typical of the 11th and 12th centuries, often associated with a fortified outer court. It served as the base for a wooden or stone tower that symbolized the lord's authority over the territory.
Can I visit the motte at Bailleul?: The site has no organized tourist facilities. It remains an archaeological feature in the landscape, and access depends on the conditions of the surrounding land.
When was the motte protected?: The feudal motte at Outtersteene was listed as a historical monument on 23 February 1979.