ヴェルレーヌの天然記念物・トップ20

若い頃は洞窟の底から登り、遺跡のてっぺんに着きました。街の美しいパノラマが楽しめました。

散策に最適な美しい場所です。trixhesから出発し、採石場に沿った小道を通って下りることができます。下に着くと、roches採石場に着きます。そこから、さまざまな岩のある2つの側面を通過します。「Houlbouse」通りに出ます。そして最後に、Chokierに着きます。とても美しいハイキングです。犬連れ、特に子供連れにおすすめです。

The gravel pit is a rich site for photography enthusiasts or walkers who wish to stroll along well-maintained paths and observe birds in peace. It's a recommended spot for walkers and photographers. Please respect the guidelines, such as keeping your dog on a leash (even if some people think it's harmless to let their dog off-leash, be aware that animals have predatory instincts, which could scare away certain ground-nesting bird species like kingfishers) and refraining from swimming so as not to disturb the birds. Thank you to everyone who respects the guidelines, and I wish you a pleasant hike or a great photo outing 🙏.

Excavations are conducted year-round at Moha Castle, making it unique in Belgium. When I visited, two archaeologists were uncovering a wall that runs beneath the visible castle and likely dates back to the 12th century.

The castle is free to visit. At the foot of the rock, there's a visitor center where you can pick up a badge to open the gate. For €4, you can also get a brochure with information about the most important points. The castle is only open to visitors starting in April, but the friendly man at the visitor center let me in on February 27th... as far as you can even call it "inside" at this ruin ;-)

The exact origins of the medieval County of Moha remain unknown. It is likely that the county was formed during the fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire and the Hesbaye region at the end of the 9th century. The first known count, Albert of Moha, is mentioned in a document dated 1026 or 1028. The first defensive stone walls also date from the first half of the 11th century. Having no male heir, Albert of Moha married his daughter to Henry I of Dasbourg around 1050, thus linking the county's destiny to that of this powerful family of Alsatian origin. Initially, it is highly unlikely that the Counts of Dasbourg regularly resided in Moha, entrusting the county's administration to trusted men and a small garrison. However, the situation changed with Hugh II (1130-1180) and his son Albert II (d. 1212), who decided to become more involved in the region's politics. Albert II, in particular, chose to align his interests with those of his nephew, Duke Henry I of Brabant, whose policies he would follow until the end of the 12th century. In 1204, Count Albert III, having lost hope of having a son, chose the Prince-Bishop of Liège as his heir. But the late birth of his daughter Gertrude would jeopardize these agreements. Quickly betrothed to Thibaut of Lorraine, who died in 1219, she then married Thibaut of Champagne, who repudiated her, and subsequently Simon of Linange. At 19, she died childless. On March 19, 1225, the Prince-Bishop of Liège, Hugues de Pierrepont, took possession of Moha. Under the Prince-Bishops, Moha became a prison for political prisoners and a fortification tasked with controlling the city of Huy and blockading merchants. This policy was deeply unpopular and led to reprisals: the people of Huy besieged Moha in 1255. The fortress of Moha was considered impregnable. It was therefore through trickery that the people of Huy, taking advantage of a request for a truce, seized the castle on May 6, 1376. After the attack on the castle, the site's history is largely unknown. Mass is still celebrated twice a year in the castle chapel. During the 18th century, the ruins served as a refuge for a hermit. The castle's stones were gradually plundered, notably to build the surrounding houses. In 1889, the ruins of the castle were purchased by the Belgian state. Source: https://chateaumoha.be/histoire

A beautiful area of (only) 34.5 hectares, characterized by reed beds, cattail ponds, and pools fringed by shrubs or with open banks... These diverse habitats offer countless bird species places to forage, nest, hibernate, or rest during their migration. No fewer than 212 species have already been observed! (Source: www.natagora.be)

The "Rocher du Château de Moha" is a limestone outcrop rising from the Mehaigne valley. It was a strategically important site in the Middle Ages, when more castles were built on rocks. This made the site difficult to besiege, and it was well-placed as a control point over the valley. The rock is very recognizable in the landscape. The ruins on the rock are still clearly visible, and the medieval structures are still easily recognizable.