Poilvache Castle (French: Château de Poilvache) is a ruined medieval castle in the Walloon municipality of Yvoir in the province of Namur, Belgium, overlooking the village of Houx from a clifftop on the Meuse River.

History

The present ruins date from the 15th century, although there has been a fortification on the site since the time of Charlemagne. The Liégeois town of Poilvache, a thriving walled town, protected by a castle, with a prosperous economy and its own mint, and allied to Duke Philippe the Good, virtually ceased to exist following its 1430 siege by the rebellious Prince-Bishop of Liège, Jean de Heynsbergh, and an estimated army of 30,000 Liégeois, Dinantais and Hutois. The Dinantais besiege Montaigle Castle in 1465 for the same reasons but Montaigle was destroyed in the 16th century by the army of Henri II of France.

It is impossible to see the whole site of Poilvache but it is the whole site which is ranked as Wallonia's Major Heritage.

From the top of these rocks it is possible to see the isle in the river where the German army and its armoured divisions crossed (in the North of the isle), the river Meuse on 13 May 1940.

Poilvache Castle


Account

by category

Login

Name

by region

Title

Name in English

The fortress of Crèvecoeur (literally "heartbreaker") in the village of Bouvignes-sur-Meuse is one of the major feudal castles around Dinant, along with Poilvache, Montaigle, Vêves and Spontin.

History
The first written mention of Bouvignes dates back to the 7th century. The original name, Boviniacum or Bovingen, translates as "property of Bovon". The discovery of a Merovingian cemetery as well as the Germanic origin of the name clearly indicate that Bouvignes started as a Frankish settlement.

The first fortress of Bouvignes was built by Godefroy, Count of Namur, in the 11th century. Henry the Blind of Luxembourg had it surrounded by a wall in 1176, and the church of Saint-Lambert was built soon afterwards. The keep was erected in the early 14th century, when Bouvignes and Dinant experienced their worst confrontation.

In 1554, King Henry II of France laid siege to Bouvignes and its castle. When the three last knights perished protecting the castle, their wives chose to throw themselves from the cliff rather than fall to the enemy. This story earned the castle its tragic name: Crèvecoeur.


https://www.eupedia.com/belgium/crevecoeur.shtml

Crèvecœur Castle


Algemeen.  Het kleine dorp Annevoie-Rouillon is een deelgemeente van de ook al niet gigantisch grote gemeente Anhée.  Het ligt in het dal van de Rouillonbeek, die uitmondt in de nabijgelegen Maas.  Annevoie is voornamelijk bekend omwille van haar kasteel en de tuinen, die tot één van de mooiste van België worden gerekend.

Kasteel.  Het oorspronkelijke kasteel werd in de eerste helft van de 17e eeuw gebouwd en kwam op het einde van die 17e eeuw in handen van de familie de Montellier.  In haar huidige toestand dateert het kasteel van 1758.  Het werd gebouwd door Charles-Alexis de Montpellier, die ook de tuinen liet aanleggen.  Vooral de achterzijde van het gebouw die weerspiegelt in de grote vijver is kenmerkend.  Bemerk ook dat de gevel niet recht is maar licht gebogen.  In het uiterste noorden van het domein ligt een watermolen en aan de meest zuidelijke punt grenst het aan de dorpskerk.  Het kasteel bleef in handen van de familie de Montpellier tot 2000. 

Tuinen.  De tuinen werden in opdracht van Charles-Alexis de Montpellier aangelegd.  Latere generaties van de familie hebben de tuinen uitgebreid en verfraaid in een combinatie van Franse, Italiaanse en Engelse stijlen.  Water vormt een heel belangrijk element; er zijn verschillende waterpartijen, kanaaltjes, vijvers en fonteinen.  Het zogenaamde "Grand Canal" bevindt zich op het hoogste punt van de tuinen en wordt gevoed door een waterbron.  Dit grote waterbekken regelt de toevoer naar de verschillende waterpartijen en fonteinen en dit enkel maar door handig gebruik te maken van de zwaartekracht en het principe van communicerende vaten.  Overtollig water uit de vijvers wordt via de Rouillonbeek afgevoerd richting Maas.  De kleurige bloementuin werd in 1952 aangelegd; voorheen speelden bloemen maar een ondergeschikte rol.

De tuinen zijn opengesteld voor het publiek.  Het kasteel zelf kun je niet bezoeken maar is heel goed zichtbaar van in de tuinen.  Het grootste deel van de tuinen is toegankelijk voor rolstoelgebruikers.  Er is ook een speeltuintje voor de kids.

http://www.xplorengo.com/ned/europa/Belgie/namen/annevoie.htm

Kasteel van Annevoie 

Situated at the confluent of the Molignée and the Flavion, the castle of Montaigle rises on a rocky spur of the escarpment which was occupied by a small military garrison at the end of the Roman period, Byzantine Era (± IIIrd to Vth century) and probably served as a place of refuge for the local populations during the germanic invasions.

Built on a more ancient construction, the fortress was erected at the beginning of the XIVth century by Guy de Dampierre, Count of Namur, known besides as regent of Flanders and as a key-figure of the Golden Spurs Battle (1302).

Abandoned by order of Charles the Fifth during the war against Henri II, king of France, Montaigle was burn down by Henry's troops in 1554. The castle was not reconstructed; but certain parts appear to have been put in order and occupied at various later epochs. Invaded by vegetation, especially by the ivy, deteriorated by the elements, it entered the legend, as showed in the pathetic story of the "Lady with the Faggot" and the dramatic legend of "Midone de Bioul" (see museum). Montaigle inspirated also many romantic artists; among them, several english painters or engravers (see the documentation published by the Friends of Montaigle).

Exploited as a quarry by the local inhabitants, the fortress owes its salvation to the intervention of the Count of Beauffort who purchased it in 1854 to avoid its total destruction and who began the first work of consolidation. The del Marmol family, owners of Montaigle since 1865, have followed this work of protection, obtaining among other things the classification of the site (1946 & 1980) and of the ruins (1965).

In 1965, preoccupied with the deterioration of these beautiful classified remains, benevolent people offered the owner their help for the safeguard and revival of the ruins and their exceptional site. The association of "The Friends of Montaigle" was born. Their efforts have resulted, among others things, in the perfecting of a new efficient method of consolidation by projecting micro-concrete.
Subsidized since 1982 by the Culture Walloon Ministry (Protection of the Patrimony), the systematic consolidation of the ruins benefits also from the assistance of a squad of workers partly paid by the Employment and Work Ministry (PRIME project). To be added : the aid of occasional volunteers (The Youth of Architectural Patrimony...), and of generous patrons.

The efforts of the Friends of Montaigle were rewarded in March 1985 by a prize of the King Baudouin Foundation (competition "Safeguard by undertaking"); another prize awarded by the Royal Association of the Belgian historical residences was won in 1993. But the Friends of Montaigle are especially happy because Montaigle is now classified as an Exceptional Walloon patrimony.

The access to the ruins is by a very steep path protected by two walls. Originally one had to cross a ditch, to-day filled in, and a first door situated where the present houses can be seen.
The farm-yard (barns, stables, pastures) was located in an enclosure below the south side of the castle and left of the access path.


http://montaigle.be/redirect/MOpg0303A.html

The Ruins of the castle of Montaigle

Het kasteel werd in 1895 gebouwd op het domein van Ronchinne. Het was een tijd in bezit van prins Victor-Napoléon Bonaparte en prinses Clementine van België, de derde dochter van Koning Leopold II. Het kasteel maakt meteen indruk, het staat boven op een heuvel in een groot park.
Of de prinses er vaak over de vloer kwam is niet bekend, toen ze na de dood van haar vader met Victor Napoléon trouwde, verhuisde ze naar Italië. Het kasteel werd uiteindelijk eigendom van de Belgische Post die het verbouwde tot een vakantiecentrum voor haar werknemers. Toen de posterijen een paar jaar geleden die activiteit stopzetten en het domein te koop aanboden, hapten Thierry Durand en Jean-Michel André, beide rasechte hoteliers, meteen toe.
Het Château de la Poste werd in maart 2009 geopend als een kwaliteitsvol hotel-restaurant. Vandaag biedt het kasteel onderdak aan hotel-restaurant Château de la Poste, in een koninklijk decor met prachtige lambrisering, schouwen en sierlijsten, in het hartje van het Naamse platteland.


https://www.burchten-kastelen.be/provincies/namen/015%20Chateau%20de%20la%20Poste/Chateau%20de%20la%20Poste.html

Kasteel van Ronchinne

Le château de Crupet est un château de plaine belge situé en Région wallonne dans le village de Crupet, section de la commune de Assesse en province de Namur. Son origine remonte au xie ou xiie siècle suivant certains auteurs mais plus vraisemblablement à la première moitié du xiiie siècle si l’on se réfère à son architecture. La seigneurie de Crupet est mentionnée dès 1278, tandis que la première mention d’une bâtisse («mannoir de Cripeit») date de 1304.

À l’origine on ne trouve sur le site qu’une puissante tour entourée de profondes douves appartenant au comte de Luxembourg à laquelle viennent très vite s’adjoindre d’autres constructions.

Au xive siècle, le domaine fortifié est cédé au prince-évêque de Liège. En 1549, il passe à la famille Carondelet qui ajoute au donjon un étage en encorbellement couvert d’un toit de forme pyramidale. Ensuite, elle construit les bâtiments formant basse-cour et transforme les lieux en château-ferme.

En 1629 ou 1667 selon les sources, la propriété passe à la maison de Mérode ; par héritage et par mariage, la demeure échoit ensuite au comte de Thiennes puis au marquis de la Boëssière. Longtemps laissé à l’abandon, le château est racheté en 1925 par l’architecte Adrien Blomme qui l’aménage pour le rendre plus habitable. Le château de Crupet est toujours occupé par la descendance d’A. Blomme.

Kasteel van Crupet

Le château de Bioul est un château situé dans le village belge de Bioul (Région wallonne).

Histoire

Le château féodal avec tours et fossés était, du xie siècle au xiiie siècle, la propriété de la famille d'Orbais. Cette seigneurie passe ensuite à la famille féodale de Jauche (sires de Jauche, seigneurs de Gommegnies, Hierges, Sassegnies, etc) suite au mariage de Berthe d'Orbais, dame héritière de Bioul, avec Gérard II de Jauche. La terre de Bioul restera dans la famille de Jauche jusqu'en 1522 avant de passer à un cousin du dernier représentant mâle de la branche aînée de la famille de Jauche (Jean de Jauche) : J. de Hosden.

J. de Hosden revendit ensuite cette seigneurie à Thierry de Brandebourg le 22 décembre 1522 dont la famille la conservera jusqu'au début du xviiie siècle.

Entre 1708 et 1870, les familles de Bilquin et de Moreau s'y succèdent. Guillaume-Nicolas de Moreau fait restaurer le château et le parc en 1776. Les Moretus-Plantin l'acquièrent en 1870, puis les Vaxelaire en 1896.

François Vaxelaire, qui avait fondée les grands magasins Au Bon Marché en 1860, fit réaliser par les architectes Edmond Franken-Willemaers et Léon Cabarche de grands travaux d'aménagement dans le respect du style du xvie siècle. En 1920, après la mort de François Vaxelaire, ses fils, le baron Raymond Vaxelaire et l'écrivain Georges Vaxelaire, en héritent.

Le fils de Raymond, le baron François Vaxelaire, président du Groupe GIB et vice-président de l'Exposition universelle de 1958 à Bruxelles, entreprend d'importants travaux de rénovation en 1956 après en avoir hérité. Il fait notamment appel à l'architecte paysagiste René Pechère.

Aujourd'hui encore, la famille Vaxelaire occupe les lieux et veille à sa préservation.

Un château familial qui devient viticole

Le château de Bioul existe depuis le xie siècle. Sa vocation viticole remonte à 2008.

Kasteel van Bioul

Le château-ferme de Falaën est une ancienne demeure fortifiée de Belgique située en Région wallonne dans le village de Falaën, section de la commune d’Onhaye en province de Namur.

Le château a été bâti par la famille Polchet entre 1670 et 1673. Il s’agissait à l’origine d’un vaste quadrilatère défendu par quatre tours d’angle et une tour-porche munie d’un pont-levis comme la petite bourgeoisie terrienne élevait à cette époque pour se protéger des bandes de pillards.

Au xviiie siècle, le château-ferme passe à la famille Coppin. Il reste en sa possession pendant deux siècles. Grâce à la popularité de cette famille, le château traverse sans encombre la période révolutionnaire. Il n’est revendu qu’au milieu du xxe siècle à la famille Delhaye.

L'édifice a perdu une tour, ses douves, son pont-levis et une partie des bâtiments fermant le côté sud.

On peut désormais visiter sa cour et le musée des Confréries gastronomiques de Wallonie (confrérie Li Crochon), retraçant l’histoire des lieux.

Dans la cour se trouve une colonne pilori, ce qui est rare dans une ferme-château.

Le 1er dimanche de juillet a lieu une fête dans l'enceinte du château, Le Château en joute.

Kasteelhoeve van Falaën

Spontin Castle is a medieval castle in the village of Spontin in the municipality of Yvoir, province of Namur, Belgium. It has massive walls, its towers topped with slate and a moat with drawbridge.

History
Spontin was built in a bend of the Bocq, whose water flows around the castle along some cascading waterfalls

The castle belonged to the noble family of Beaufort (named after a castle near Huy). Between 1266 and 1284, Pierre de Beaufort built the main tower which is the core of the castle. In 1288, his son William (Guillaume), nicknamed the "Ardennes", participated in the Battle of Woeringen. For his bravery in battle, in which Henry VII of Luxembourg was defeated, he was rewarded with the fiefdom of Spontin. From that time, the lords of the castle Spontin constantly added various outbuildings up to the 16th century when it gained its present form.

Spontin Castle was on a 'dangerous' place in the border region between the County of Namur and the Principality of Liège, and although it was assaulted by armies from Liege, Dinant, Burgundy, and France, it was never taken.

From the late sixteenth century, the fortifications became redundant and unnecessary, the castle is transformed into a residence by the drilling of windows and is accented with red bricks and roofs pepper. The last two transformations are the construction of a fortified farm beyond the moat (1622) and demolition of the rear part of the fortifications. In the parade, decorated with an elegant frame of wrought iron sink Van Boeckel (nineteenth century), featuring former dungeon. The rooms of the old house, with huge walls, chimneys, and Gothic woodwork Louis XIII, the sandstone paving, constrastent by their austerity with the apartments, and there is a well carved into a wall. The southern part has been decorated in the nineteenth century in the Gothic Revival. Currently, the castle is closed to the public, this is private property.

After the fall of the Ancien Régime, the castle was owned by a number of people, until eventually it was purchased by SA Société du Château de Spontin, which entrusted the management of the association Les Cimaises the Spontin. Due to mismanagement of previous owners, the castle is now in a precarious state of neglect.

Spontin Castle


The castle of Freÿr with its gardens in the style of Le Nôtre is located on the left bank of the Meuse, between Waulsort and Dinant (province of Namur, Belgium). They form one of the most magnificent natural sites in Belgium. It has been classified as one of Wallonia's major heritage sites.

The castle
Dating back to the Middle Ages, Freÿr was a keep given in fief by the Count of Namur to Jean de Rochefort Orjol in 1378. His granddaughter Marie married Jacques de Beaufort in 1410. Their descendants have kept the estate until the present.

Outside
The keep was destroyed in 1554 by the French during the wars against Emperor Charles V. The oldest part of the current castle, the east wing, was built in 1571 and is one of the first examples of the "Renaissance Mosane" style.

During the 17th century the house was enlarged by the addition of three wings, forming a square with the original wing.

Around 1760 the south wing was pulled down and replaced by a wrought iron gate reminiscent of Jean Lamour's masterpiece in Nancy, closing the inner yard to give the castle its current appearance.

The gardens

Designed in the style of André Le Nôtre in 1760 by Canon Guillaume de Beaufort-Spontin and enlarged by his brother Philippe in 1770, the gardens are set on walled terraces on the left bank of the Meuse. They offer views towards the woods to the north and towards the Meuse to the east, and their peace and serenity contrast with the naked rockface on the far bank.

Ponds and fountains babble on the lower level where orange trees spread their delicate perfume. Most of them are 350 years old. The trees came to Freÿr in the first part of the 18th century from Lunéville, the residence of the Duke of Lorraine. They are the oldest trees in cases in Europe (Icomos Conference Orangerien in Europa - Von fürstlichem Vermögen und gärtnerischer Kunst, Bamberg 2005). The wooden cases are still built according to the original design. The oldest orangery of the Low Countries (early 18th century) combines elegance and simplicity.

The upper level is covered by hedge mazes (6 km) that unveil their mysteries one by one: a set of patterns inspired by card game figures, a theme also present in the terra cotta statues made by Cyfflé.

At the very top of the gardens, the Rococo pavilion commands the view on the Meuse and seduces by its delicate stucco decoration, based on the theme of fertility with cornucopia and Tritons.

The right bank of the Meuse is dominated by cliffs (more than 100 m high, 340 million years old), from which one has an exceptional view of the estate.

Castle of Freÿr


Walzin Castle is a castle in Belgium in the province Namur over the river Lesse near Dinant. Construction began in the 13th century, and the 15th-century Renaissance horseshoe tower with four cannon ports still exists, even though the castle was burned down by the French army in 1554. There were several restorations later, the latest by Baron Fréderic Brugman between 1930 and 1932. Victor Hugo made a drawing of it in 1863.

