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Wallonie

Château de Franc-Waret

Castles

Wallonie

Château de Franc-Waret

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Château de Franc-Waret

Recommended by 35 hikers out of 36

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Location: Fernelmont, Namur, Namur, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Château de Franc-Waret

4.3

(7)

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1. Notre-Dame Church, Gelbressé – Fernelmont and Its Vita Trail loop from Franc-Waret

6.10km

01:38

70m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.2

(6)

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2. Notre-Dame Church, Gelbressé – Fernelmont and Its Vita Trail loop from Basse Maquelette

5.99km

01:36

70m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

5.0

(1)

hikers

3. Fernelmont and Its Vita Trail loop from Franc-Waret

4.59km

01:11

30m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Willem VS

February 27, 2023

The castle of Franc-Waret is a vast quadrilateral built in blue stones and bricks. It is made up, to the north, of a fortified farm with a drawbridge and corner towers from the end of the 16th century to which is added, to the south, an 18th century castle, in a "U", facing south. The whole is surrounded by moats. It is a complex built according to a principle of defense. then remodeled in the middle of the 18th century on the plans of the architect Jean-Baptiste Chermanne, giving it a classic look. Large French gardens are established on the terrace to the north of the complex. A tower to the northeast was intended for habitation1. Access is via two bridges over the moat facing the main façade. This is centered by a frontispiece in the spirit of Louis XVI2. The wings in return comprise three levels with similar windows. On the ground floor, a coach shed surmounted by four keyed arches overlooks the main courtyard. At the junction of the east wing with the main wing, a three-sided neo-classical logia dating from 1834 benefits from a southwest exposure to the sun. Towards the moat, to the west, a long, almost blind façade joins the drawbridge which gives access to the courtyard of the farm. The outer walls were partially rebuilt around 1856-1859. The orangery was built in 1810 to plans by architect Fr. Duckers3. The Saint-Rémi de Franc-Waret church is located on the edge of the village, 100 meters east of the castle. The Groesbeeck family owned the castle until the end of the 18th century. It then passes to the Counts of Cross and then to the Counts of Andigné who reside there.

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Willem VS

February 27, 2023

In 1914, castle owners were well aware of the tense situation between the great powers since the Algeciras Conference of 1906. They took measures to ensure that the works of art in the castles were preserved. In Franc-Waret, large crates were made to protect the paintings and send them to Namur to the Hôtel de Groesbeeck - de Croix. A famous chasuble and silverware from the church reached Namur. But time is running out and, from the beginning of August 1914, it becomes impossible to continue these transports. The paintings are hidden in Franc-Waret itself, in superimposed vaults whose bay is closed two days before the arrival of the Germans. The goblins and the wines are buried in specially designed zinc crates. Part of the wine is also walled. The Belgian soldiers warn the population of the village of the danger of staying in a village near a wood which attracts suspicion. The staff of the castle therefore leaves the village with the other inhabitants. The castle was very quickly occupied militarily by German soldiers. They arrive on August 20, 1914 and leave on September 7, 1914. The castle is, after their passage, in a lamentable state. All hiding places have been discovered and gutted. Furniture that has not been removed is broken. The archives are on the ground, lacerated6. As for the inhabitants of the village, they had to undergo the cruelty of German Uhlans who shot more than 12 people including children.

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Mickaël

April 22, 2021

Nice family corner ...

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Elevation 230 m

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Sunday 26 October

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Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h

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Location: Fernelmont, Namur, Namur, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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1. Notre-Dame Church, Gelbressé – Fernelmont and Its Vita Trail loop from Franc-Waret

2. Notre-Dame Church, Gelbressé – Fernelmont and Its Vita Trail loop from Basse Maquelette

3. Fernelmont and Its Vita Trail loop from Franc-Waret

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