Prison de la Motte Castrale
History & Heritage

Prison de la Motte Castrale

Saint-Omer · Pas-de-Calais · Hauts-de-France

The Prison of the Motte Castrale is a historical site located in Saint-Omer, in the Pas-de-Calais. Founded as the city's fortress in the 10th century, this castle first served to protect the collegiate church from Norman invasions, before becoming the residence of the local castellan. Built by the counts of Flanders, it underwent several transformations: fortification in the 16th century, then military prison in the 18th century. The site today hosts artist residencies and remains a testament to the architectural and defensive evolutions of the region. It is only open to the public during festivals, specific events, or during certain guided tours of Saint-Omer's historic center.

Practical information

Address

1B Pl. Sithieu

Official website

tourisme-saintomer.com

Getting there

Nearest station

About 20 min walk from station Saint-Omer (or 5 min by car).

Parking

On-site parking.

Reference city

30 min by car from Hazebrouck.

Distances and times calculated from © OpenStreetMap contributors data · calculated on 2 September 2026

Galleries nearby: Galerie Art & Motion (17.4 km), Galerie des remparts (17.6 km).

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