Modaveの洞窟・トップ20

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 ;-)

One of Liège's most beautiful castles, originating in the 11th century, completely surrounded by a moat. Striking are the checkerboard facades in limestone and brown sandstone and the pepper-pot-like turrets. Various owners succeeded one another over the centuries. For two centuries (16th-17th century), it was owned by the powerful de Merode family, who gave the castle its current appearance. They sold it to the Van den Steen family in 1720. The last descendant of the family, Count Guy vanden Steen, bequeathed it to the province in 1999. He was a sculptor, among other things, and many of his bronze statues still adorn the gardens. He did, however, incorporate a distinctive symbolism, depicting nude female figures mating with beetles. The 22-hectare estate also features an Italian ornamental garden with water features and bronze statues, a 19th-century vegetable garden with orangeries, a 19th-century icehouse, and many listed trees. The castle also has its own church within the moat on a peninsula. Over the centuries, the owners have amassed numerous curiosities that can be seen in the castle, which is now a provincial property and open to visitors.

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

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.

The current castle was built in 1820 by Count Emile de Liederkerke on the site of a previously burned-down castle, the origins of which likely date back to the 13th century. Many important noble families (Haultepenne, de Eynatten, Horion, etc.) owned the Lordship of Centfontaine. During the nineteenth century, the castle came into the possession of the Cornet d’Elzius family, who gave the facade its current appearance around 1900.

The Château de Moha is a medieval feudal castle in Wanze, built on a rock at the confluence of the Mehaigne and Fosseroule rivers. Dating back to the 7th century, the castle served as a defense for the region. It became the property of the Prince-Bishops of Liège, who used it as a fortress and prison. In 1376, the castle was captured by the inhabitants of Huy through deception, marking the end of its military function. The castle subsequently fell into disrepair, but the ruins have been preserved and are open to the public.

stunning