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


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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.



Walzin Castle

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


The Castle of Vêves occupies a rocky platform just outside the village of Celles, in the province of Namur, Belgium. It is classified as Major Heritage of Wallonia. According to tradition, the site has been occupied by castles since the time of Pippin of Herstal (7th century). In the later Middle Ages, the area fell under control of the Beaufort family, which oversaw the construction of a stronghold here in about 1230.

The present castle, in the form of an irregular pentagon and flanked by six round towers of varying size, dates largely from around 1410. Successive restorations modified especially the walls of the inner courtyard, one of which is lined with a distinctive half-timbered gallery of two levels, and another of which was given a red brick facade in the Louis XV style. The northern frontage is crowned with a small cupola containing a clock.

Kasteel van Vêves

Château Miranda (English: Miranda Castle), also known as Château de Noisy (English: Noisy Castle) was a 19th-century neo-Gothic castle in Celles, province of Namur, Belgium, in the region of the Ardennes. As of October 2017, the chateau has been completely demolished.

History

The Château was planned and designed in 1866 by the English architect Edward Milner under commission from the Liedekerke-De Beaufort family, who had left their previous home, Vêves Castle, during the French Revolution. Milner died in 1884 before the Château was finished. Construction was completed in 1907 after the clock tower was erected.

Their descendants remained in occupation until World War II. A small portion of the Battle of the Bulge took place on the property, and it was during that time that the Château was occupied by German forces.[citation needed]

In 1950, Château Miranda was renamed "Château de Noisy" when it was taken over by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB) as an orphanage and also a holiday camp for sickly children. It lasted as a children's camp until the late 1970s.

The Château stood empty and abandoned since 1991 because the costs to maintain it were too great, and a search for investors in the property failed. Although the municipality of Celles had offered to take it over, the family refused, and the enormous building lingered in a derelict state, succumbing to decay and vandalism. Parts of the structure were heavily damaged in a fire and many areas of the ceiling were beginning to collapse. Despite this, it became a favorite venue for Urban Exploration.

Demolition of Château Miranda

Demolition work began in 2016, amid concern over the structural stability of the building. The demolition took approximately a year, which began in October 2016 with removal of the roof. By October 2017, the chateau had been completely demolished. The last part to be removed, was the iconic central tower.

Miranda Castle

The Château de Fontaine (Dutch: Kasteel van Fontaine) is a chateau in the municipality of Onhaye in the Belgian province of Namur. It is located south of the village of Anthée.

The chateau was built near the intersection of the main road from Namur to Luxembourg and the road from Dinant to Liège. The chateau lies to the south of the village of Anthée in a valley surrounded by woods. The chateau replaced a medieval castle, of which there are remains in the north east corner. It was the seat of the lordship of Fontaine, which included Anthée, Morville and Miavoye, spanning the counties of Namur and Agimont in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.

The chateau is built of limestone, and is U-shaped, open to the south, with towers on each corner. There is a farm to the east with the same plan, with the open side facing the chateau. The two-story chateau was probably built in stages in the 16th century. The other buildings were erected in the 16th and 17th centuries. The chateau was renovated in neo-traditional style between 1907 and 1909. The chateau was given a uniform appearance, with the towers raised and the present windows and other decorations added.


Kasteel van Fontaine (Anthée)

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


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

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

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.



Château Royal d'Ardenne

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