VAT HOUSE

Apart from the centre of Tourcoing, practically at the border with Roubaix, in an area only served by the bus, lies the remains of a building not like the others: The Vaissier Palace. But let's go back a bit to understand the history of this incredible place. At the end of the th century, Victor Vaissier took over the reins of the family soap. To increase sales, he decided to create a line of products inspired by French colonial history and fashion of very fashionable exoticism at the time. It is the birth of perfumed soaps "Prince of Congo". Success is such that his soaps will be used by real crowned heads! In the face of such a success, Victor Vaissier becomes somewhat self-indulgent and qualifies as «Prince of the Congo». He then wants a live up to his title! In 1892, he entrusted the architect Charles Dupire with the mission of building a majestic palace on a 5 ha park. Its central dome is also reminiscent of that of the famous Taj Mahal. But here the 35 m high dome is glass and has its own electricity factory to stay lit all night! For the story, it was André Michelin (the future king of the tyre!) who was at the origin of this dome which subsequently figura on hundreds of postcards. The bricks and color tiles give the whole of a breathtaking appearance. Inside, it's a sweeping of styles and periods. To receive his guests, Victor Vaissier has built several exhibitions of Japanese or Indian inspiration. The dining room combines a Renaissance style with influences from the Orient. On the floor, a stained glass window representing Congo sheds light on an astonishing light. When Victor Vaissier died in 1923, the palace was bought by a contractor before being demolished in 1929. From this incredible construction, only two houses belonged to the concierge and the gardener of the palace. The red and yellow tiles of the roofs and the turquoise bricks of the facades have lost nothing of their old splendour. But when we go to these small charming houses, it seems difficult to imagine that only 90 years ago this place still housed the Palace of the Self-Proclaimed Prince of the Congo.