Cassel

Cassel crowns a prominent hill above the Flemish plain. The Romans developed it as Castellum Menapiorum, the centre of a network of roads converging on the height; later it became a fortified seat of the counts of Flanders and the centre of a castellany encompassing many villages. Its commanding position made the hill a frequent prize in the wars and dynastic disputes of the region.

In 1328 Philip VI of France defeated Flemish rebels led by Nicolaas Zannekin at Cassel. Centuries later, French and Spanish forces repeatedly contested the town. In 1677 a French army defeated the Prince of Orange near Cassel while Saint-Omer was under siege. The Treaty of Nijmegen gave Cassel to France the following year, after which its defences were dismantled.