The castle of Walzin is located in Dréhance, now a sub-municipality of Dinant, in the province of Namur. This neo-Gothic castle stands on a steep rock above the right bank of the Lesse, before it flows into the Meuse.
At this strategic point in the Lesse, formerly a ford, a hilltop castle was already reported in the 11th and 12th centuries. This military stronghold was destroyed from the land up to four times; only the 11th-century keep of Cavrenne has been preserved as a ruin. The remains near the current castle mainly consist of that keep, with a remainder of approximately thirteen metres of enclosure wall that is 1.7 to 3.3 metres thick. The first written notes about this stronghold date back to 1235. In 1489, the order to destroy the castle came from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.
The castle has known various periods of decline and prosperity and has been renovated several times throughout history in different styles.
In 1850, the later Baron Alfred Brugmann bought the ruins and carried out many restorations. In 1881, he had them restored by architect Émile Janlet in a kind of Spanish-Flemish style. The castle in this version can be seen on many postcards and drawings from the Belle Époque.
In 1930, Baron Frédéric Brugmann de Walzin had the castle renovated again, this time by architect Octave Flanneau. He opted for the Maasland style that is common in the region, which gave the castle its current, well-known appearance. The work was completed in 1932.
The gardens of the castle were designed by architect Louis Julien Breydel, who also designed the Kruidtuin in Brussels. The castle is located in a wooded area, the Bois de Chaleux. This is not accessible for viewing, but the gardens are, possibly with a guided tour.
Owner: Count and Countess Alexis de Limburg-Stirum