Rochefort Castle, locally known as Vieux Château Comtal de Rochefort, lies in the center of the town with the same name, in the province of Namur in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

A castle was first mentioned at this site in 1155. At that time it was owned by the Montaigu family. Later on it was owned by the Walcourt family and was known as the largest castle in the Famenne region. Not much is known about the history of the castle in those times.

It was built on a strategic location which caused it to be besieged several times.

In 1445 a French colonel; Nadonnet, and his soldiers set up headquarters in the castle to aid the Lord of Rochefort; Evrard de la Marck, in his uprising against the Duke of Burgundy. As a result the bishop of Liège besieged the castle. After several days Nadonnet was bribed and escorted back to France.

In 1651, during the war between France and Spain, the castle was taken by a colonel Latour who served Spain. In 1653 the castle was sieged twice, without result, by French troops. The castle was garrisoned by French imperial troops in 1674.

In 1746 the castle was thoroughly rebuilt into a real palace for the Count of Rochefort. He found the old castle too oldfashioned with its military, and thus unappealing, appearance. He tore down the medieval keep and added a large esplanade built on 10 large arches and French garden.

At the end of the Ancien Régime, in 1774, the castle was stormed by the angry townspeople of Rochefort. It was then owned by the Stolberg family. After the French Revolution the castle was sold. The new owner couldn't pay the cost of its upkeep and started to sell building materials. This eventually turned the castle into a quarry.

A new, neogothic castle was built on a small part of the original castle's foundations in 1904. Since 1966 the castle ruins were consolidated. And from 1987 the castle is maintained by the "Friends of Rochefort Castle"-foundation. The castle can be visited for a small fee. There is a small archaeological exposition. This castle is not very spectacular but nice to visit when you are in the neighbourhood. I especially liked the arches under the esplanade with the hanging plants.

Rochefort Castle

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Jemeppe Castle, also known as Hargimont Castle, is a castle in Hargimont, now part of the municipality of Marche-en-Famenne, province of Luxembourg, Belgium.

History
It is known that during the Roman era a fortified villa was established in the region. The present castle is however of medieval origin.

In the Middle Ages the manor of Jemeppe consisted of only a few buildings, surrounded by marshland and the river Hedrée. These offered little protection against the ruling families of Namur and Luxembourg, who had been fighting to gain control of the territories of Durbuy and La Roche since the 12th century. A fortified house was built here in the early 13th century, later replaced by Jean d'Ochain with a donjon protected by moats.

Originally, the donjon had five storeys. Access to the upper and lower floors and the two cellars is via the ground floor, through the only door in the tower. The first two floors were designed as living quarters, and the two floors above that were of a more basic design and used as staff quarters, for storage, and to provide shelter for inhabitants from the manor of Jemeppe seeking refuge.

The donjon remained in the d'Ochain family until 1616, when the heiress, Catherine de Jemeppe, married Raes d'Ans, sieur de Velroux. It was probably Raes d'Ans, shortly after acquiring the property, who extended the fortified tower with living quarters into a square castle building. The wings of the castle, double moat and farmstead also date from that period. The wings were modernized in 1739 and 1748, and more windows were added. Restoration work was also carried out at the beginning of the 19th century, including on the gallery and the gatehouse next to the donjon.

In 1838, the castle passed to the de Sauvage-Vercour family. Between 1865 and 1875, Adrien de Sauvage-Vercour had extensive renovation work carried out on the castle. Attics and pitched roofs were added to the wings. He also commissioned an unknown architect to build a "crowning apex" on the donjon, and the old flat roof was replaced by the present steep roof. After the work was completed, weathervanes in medieval style were added to the tower roofs. One of the vanes still bears the de Sauvage-Vercour monogram.

Jemeppe Castle

HISTORY

Château de Vignée is a landmark amidst the strong-willed landscape of the Ardennes.

Sprouting from a 400-year-old hunting narrative and acting as a field hospital in the Second World War, the 17th-century castle has always been a stronghold in the Famenne region.

HERE AND NOW

Over the years, Château de Vignée has gained deeper insight into the needs of its guests only to arise anew as a lavish boutique estate. The opulent suites are tailored to unwind, restaurant ARDEN caters to any gastronomical urges while the spa site tends to physical and spiritual solace. The tailored event spaces add to the flourishing spirit of the chateau site.

ANCIENT ROOTS

Drawing from its ancient roots, the chateau is raised from regional marbles and the ruins of the previous building. The interior takes cues from the overwhelming force and beauty of the native scenery surrounding the estate. Aware of its ever-evolving setting, Château de Vignée has aligned with the seasons both aesthetically and gastronomically offering a genuine Ardennes experience.



https://www.chateaudevignee.be/about/

Kasteel van Vignée in Villers-sur-Lesse

Le Château de Resteigne disposant de différentes salles, d’une grange, d’un parking, d’une chapelle et de jardins sera le lieu idéal pour votre réception, vos mariages, team building, anniversaires,…

Resté authentique, avec sa tour cochère, son corps de logis de style Louis XV, sa chapelle néogothique et ses espaces insensés, le Château de Resteigne datant du XVIeme siècle, renvoie à notre imaginaire d’enfants, peuplé de chevaliers et de seigneurs…

Le Château de Resteigne, situé en bord de Lesse dans un parc fleuri, vous offre l’infrastructure idéale pour votre réception, vos mariages, diners de Noël, week-ends familiaux, ou événements d’entreprise, sans oublier les manifestations de plus grande ampleur qui peuvent prendre place sous chapiteaux dans la cour ou dans le parc.

Les premières sources situent les origines du château de Resteigne au 12ème siècle. Même si de nombreuses modifications de l’architecture initiale ont été réalisées au cours des siècles qui ont suivi, le matériau choisi pour la construction (le moellon de calcaire) a toujours été respecté. Au 19ème siècle, le château est occupé par Edmond d’Hoffschmidt (1777-1861), ermite philosophe. Il marqua l’histoire de Resteigne par ses œuvres philanthropiques dont on retrouve la trace sur sa pierre tombale au cimetière de la commune.


http://www.chateauderesteigne.be/chateau/#son-histoire

Kasteel van Resteigne

Ciergnon Castle, or the Royal Castle of Ciergnon (Château Royal de Ciergnon; Koninklijk kasteel van Ciergnon) is a residence and summer retreat of the Belgian Royal Family situated near the town of Ciergnon in the municipality of Houyet, province of Namur. The castle is a property of the Belgian Royal Trust.

The domain with its woods, river and vast hunting grounds was acquired in 1840 by King Leopold I of Belgium at the request of his spouse Queen Louise-Marie. At first a hunting lodge was erected on a beautiful terrace overlooking a deep forested valley. The present château was erected later by King Leopold II of Belgium. The edifice was designed by his court architect Alphonse Balat. Since then it has always served as a holiday retreat to the Royal Family. In 1960 it was the venue for the press presentation of King Baudouin's fiancé Dona Fabiola de Mora y Aragon.

More recently the children of Philippe, King of the Belgians, Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eléonore were baptised in the chapel of the château.

The Royal Family also owned other castles in the direct vicinity of Ciergnon. Fenffe Castle is still in use as a holiday retreat by the royal family. Ardenne Castle was, according to the wish of King Leopold II, converted into a luxury hotel. It was closed after World War II and destroyed by fire in 1968.

Royal Castle of Ciergnon

The History of Château d'Hassonville by Paul Borman
Hassonville was, in former days, the seat of a Court of Justice which determined part of Laroche.
Hubert the Waha, knight, becomes the first known owner of the court the Hassonville in 1356.

As from the XVe century, this ground will belong to the nearest property of the lords of Humain as well as a dependent of the county of Laroche.
This leads us, around 1450, to lord Henri Botier Fexhe. His daughter, Catherine de Fexhe, married around 1455 with Jean I the Boulant. Jean II the Boulant, the oldest son, is the heir of Humain with the court of Hassonville.

Of his 3 sons, Robert the Boulant, becomes lord of Humain and Hassonville.
After the death of his son, Lamoralde Boulant, died without other children and Hassonville drew much interest.

Jehenne the Boulant can, finally, join Humain and Hassonville to her patrimony, which she transfers to her spouse Jean Richard Scönenbourg.
In 1602 they leave Humain and Hassonville to an affinity Gérard the Schwarzenberg.
After his death the property is left to his brother Edmond.

After the decline of Edmond the Schwarzenberg (+ 1656) the property goes first to Jean the Jemeppe and later to a Ville who sells the ground on august 16, 1686 to Mr Charles Gauthier de la Veranderie, governor of Marche, for the amount of 1000 florijnen.

In 1675 the city of Marche is occupied by the troops of Louis XIV.
Louis XIV, so one say, charmed by the landscape gave task to the lord de la Veranderie to build a pavilion for hunting. The construction is elegant, the landscape full of charm and the large park - so says the legend - designed by an assistant of Le Nôtre.

Louis XIV did probably not stay at Hassonville and 5 years later Hassonville is sold to Jean François Belhoste for the amount of 3,806 pounds.

By inheritance Hassonville is transferred in 1766 to Jean François Remacle the Belhoste, the only lord of Hassonville. It was him who, after a combat against the Austrians, orders his soldiers to plant a beech-alley of which some still exists.

Of his 7 children, Maximilien the Belhoste (1760 - 1845) left the field to his cousin Frantz the Neunheuser. In 1857, Neunheuser sells Hassonville with its 650 ha ground to Paul Alphonse Henry (1812 - 1897). He modernises the castle, places a warm air heating, joins the current wintergarden and constructs the rooms.

As only inheriting child, Charles Henry (1844 - 1922) gets in 1908 the authorisation, for him and his heirs, to join "the Hassonville" to its name.

In 1911, the property is sold to baron Ferdinand Drion du Chapois. In 1986, he sells the castle to the Rodrigues  - Van Eyck family.
End of the same year, château d'Hassonville opens as a hotel-restaurant with 20 rooms.
The last activities date from 1999, with the opening of the restaurant "Le Grand Pavillon" and the wine cellar "Le cellier de Bacchus".


https://www.hassonville.be/page/lhistoire-du-chateau

Kasteel van Hassonville

Lavaux-Sainte-Anne Castle, locally known as Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne, lies next to the town with the same name, in the province of Namur in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

The castle dates back to the first half of the 15th century when it was built by the Berlo family. It was built on a swampy plain near the small Wimbe river (an affluent of the river Lesse).

In 1450 the keep was built and some years later the castle was strengthened by Jean II de Berlo. Local history has it that he went on crusade in 1453 to free Constantinople of the Turks, but he took so long getting there that he arrived too late.

In 1464 the castle was besieged by the citizens of Dinant. They could not take the castle.

In 1630 the castle was bought by the baron Jacques-Renard de Rouveroy, an infantry colonel in the service of Emperor Ferndinand III. Because of the evolution of war tactics the castle's defenses were rendered useless. So he turned it into a country mansion. He took down one curtain wall and remodeled the facade of the inner courtyard into Italian baroque. He also covered the castle in red bricks and added the bulbous roofs.

During the French Revolution the castle was abandoned and fell to ruin.

In 1934 the castle was bought by a baroness Lemonnier followed by the "Friends of Lavaux-Sainte-Anne Castle"-foundation who restored the castle to its present glory.

Since 1958 the castle houses a museum dedicated to the hunt. 


https://www.castles.nl/lavauxsa-castle

Kasteel van Lavaux-Sainte-Anne

De geschiedenis van dit kasteel is niet helemaal bekend.

Het is wel zeker dat er in de 11e eeuw sprake was van een adelijke familie in Waha.

In 1832 werd het landgoed waar het huidige kasteel staat gekocht door Lambert Louis le Jeune. Het huidige neoclassicistische gebouw werd vermoedelijk in 1842-1844 opgetrokken. Het is een bakstenen gebouw, dat bepleisterd is.
Ook de stallen en de wagenschuur dateren uit die periode.

Het gebouw is een evenwichtige mix van horizontale elementen (we wijzen op de lijsten) en vertikale elementen (de twee zijrisalieten), met veel lichtinval dankzij de vele, grote vensters.

Ook de binneninrichting in neoclassicistische stijl bleef goed bewaard. Er is o.a. een prachtige vestibule met een trap in St.-Remymarmer.



http://www.belgiumview.com/belgiumview/tl1/view0001757.php4

Kasteel van Waha

Mirwart Castle is situated in Mirwart in Saint-Hubert, in the province of Luxembourg, Wallonia, Belgium.

The castle is built on a rock rising above the "Vallée de la Lomme" (the Valley of the Lomme). The oldest parts of the castle date back to the 11th century. It was a stronghold belonging to the duchy of Lorraine. The lords of Mirwart had many bloody conflicts with other feudal lords of the region, such as the lords of Bouillon and Orchimont.

The lords of Mirwart came into conflict with the monks of the powerful Saint-Hubert Abbey, supported by the Prince-Bishop of Liège, who wanted to extend his power in this region to the disadvantage of the Dukes of Lorraine.

The castle was reinforced, sometime between 1077-1082, by Henry of Verdun, bishop of Liege. Following complaints from the abbey of Saint-Hubert, the castle was to be destroyed. This act, however, was not approved by the bishop. In 1099, after regaining control over the fief, Bishop Otbert ordered the reconstruction of the castle, which he granted to Bavon de Waha (also known as Bovo de Duras).

In 1293, against the bishop's wishes, the castle and its estates was acquired by Jean d'Avesnes. This resulted in a conflict between the Prince-Bishop of Liège and his new vassal, who sought support from the Counts of Hainaut, Luxembourg, Namur and Loon, and even from the Dukes of Brabant. Control of the castle changed regularly until it was finally held by Prince-Bishop Adolph II of the Marck.

During the numerous conflicts between Spain, Austria and France in the 17th and 18th centuries, the castle was damaged several times. It was only at the beginning of the 18th century that a long undisturbed period began when extensive renovations and embellishments could be undertaken. During this process the castle gradually lost its strongly fortified character.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the castle was acquired by Aimé-Gabriel d'Artigues, the founder of the famous "Cristallerie de Vonêche", or Vonêche glassworks. Successive proprietors—the families Van der Linden d'Hoogvorst, d'Arrigade and von der Becke—further embellished the castle and turned it into a beautiful country residence. In the middle of the 19th century it was renovated by Alphonse Balat, architect to King Leopold II of Belgium.

After World War II the castle was acquired by the province of Luxembourg. The building was renovated but the province failed to find a use for it. As a result, little by little, the castle was neglected and was subsequently looted by burglars who removed valuable furniture and decorative fittings from the interior.

Mirwart Castle


Leignon Castle, locally known as Château de Leignon, lies next to the village of the same name, in the province of Namur in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

Before Leignon Castle was built there was an earlier building on this site, dating back to the 17th century, on an old estate belonging to the Stavelot Abbey. Around 1890 the estate with all its buildings were bought by Isidore Jacques Eggermont, a Belgian diplomat from Ghent. He then had everything completely rebuilt by the Belgian architect Auguste Van Assche, giving the castle its present appearance.

In 1953 the castle was bought from the Eggermont family by the National Railway Company of Belgium. Later that century the estate was gradually broken up. The castle is now a private residence again. The stables and the outbuildings are home to a youth organisation organizing horse camps and the lands are part of a separate farm.





https://www.castles.nl/leignon-castle

Kasteel van Leignon

Ardenne Castle, or the Royal Castle of Ardenne (Château Royal d'Ardenne, formerly also spelled "Hardenne") was situated in the municipality of Houyet in Belgium not far from Ciergnon Castle. The construction of the building was ordered in 1874 by King Leopold II of Belgium, to the plans of his architect Alphonse Balat. It replaced an older hunting lodge built in the 1830s by Leopold I.

King Leopold II wanted to promote the Belgian region of the Ardennes as a holiday destination for the fashionable set. To this end he had his château converted into a luxury hotel. A railway station in the corner of the park made the remote castle accessible to tourists. An 18-hole golf course was installed in the park. The Compagnie Internationale des Grands Hotels ran the hotel from 1898 onwards. It finally closed its doors in 1950, and was then destroyed by fire in 1968. The remains were demolished in 1970.

Today only the "Tour Léopold", a pavilion in the beautiful park, remains of the vast castle. It serves as a club house to the Royal Golf Club du Château Royal d'Ardenne.

