フロロンヴィルの洞窟・トップ13

The most famous representative of the dynasty, Godfrey of Bouillon (Duke of Lower Lorraine, c. 1060 to 1100), takes us back in time to the late 11th century. Geographically, however, the life story of this man takes us far from his homeland: across the Mediterranean to the Holy Land. He participated as a leading figure in the First Crusade and the conquest of Jerusalem. After the city's capture, he was to become king of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, but he rejected such a title, arguing that the only king over Jerusalem could be Christ himself, who was crucified and buried here—and resurrected.

The current castle is very recent. It was built in 1960 at the request of the owners, the Otreppe de Bouvette family, based on plans by architect Emile Godin. The previous castle was severely damaged in both world wars and fell into disrepair.

The fortified castle of Bouillon is situated on three rocky ridges and offers stunning views of the city. During your visit, you can also take in a falconry performance. Falconry was a true art form during the Middle Ages. You can conclude your visit with the Scriptura Museum, which chronicles the history of education, and the exhibition of the fresco "The Armed Pilgrimage of Godfrey of Bouillon." The castle is open daily.

The medieval ruins of Herbeumont Castle, perched on a rocky ridge overlooking the village and the Semois River, offer many remarkable views of the meandering river. The fortress's foundation stones were laid in 1268 by Jehan de Rochefort, son of the House of Walcourt. Over the centuries, the castle was inhabited by various families: the House of Orgeo, the House of la Marck-Rochefort, the House of Stolberg, and the House of Löwestein. The natural steepness of the mountain made the castle inaccessible from three sides for a long time. In the 15th century, Herbeumont's walls were reinforced with a sturdy round tower at each southern end. Unfortunately, this did not prevent the castle from being destroyed by French troops on August 21, 1657. (Visit Wallonia)

During World War II, the castle housed the Queen Elisabeth House, which became a boys' school in 1942. Headmaster Marie Taquet and her husband, Émile Taquet, housed 87 Jewish children there and saved them from the Holocaust. The current building has served as the municipal building of the city of Chiny since 2012. It was partially renovated at that time. In 2025, the city of Chiny received European subsidies for an energy-efficient restoration of the castle. This included insulating the roof, walls, floors, and ceilings, replacing the lighting with LED bulbs, and replacing the heating system. (Wikipedia)

beautiful castle ruins

pretty castle which is now a town hall

Great Gravel path passing by this beautiful castle Westwards.