빌레르-라-빌‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪10‬개의 동굴

The Old Castle of Marbais is a 13th-century medieval castle. It is located on a rocky spur overlooking the confluence of the Thyle and the Ri des Goutailles valley, in Marbais, within the municipality of Villers-la-Ville. This site was once part of the former seigneury of Marbais.

The first castle on this site is said to have been built in 1129 by knight Walter de Holton, the first lord of the lordship, which was given to him as a fief by the then Duke of Brabant. His father, Henri de Loupoigne, already ruled in neighbouring Houtain-le-Mont. Father Henri and son Walter thus obtained absolute power in the area of present-day Houtain-le-Val and Houtain-le-Mont. The castle actually belonged to the Duke of Brabant himself, Jan II the Peaceful. His successor, Jan III, acquired the castle for his eldest daughter, Johanna, who received Houtain from her father in 1345. The castle was passed down from generation to generation by the daughters of the family for many generations. Not much remains of the original castle. It was rebuilt in 1763 in classical style, but has retained a large part of its medieval facade. The oldest parts date from the fifteenth century, with architectural elements from the 12th century. Much has changed since then. For example, two turrets were added during restoration work in 1850. At a certain point, the castle came into the hands of the d'Hanins de Moerkerke family, originally from the Waas region. While most branches of this family made a name for themselves in Flanders, Count Fernand-Auguste-Joseph d'Hanins de Moerkerke married Marie de Waha in the nineteenth century. And so he became heir to the castle. His son Henri d'Hanins de Moerkerke became the next owner and mayor of Houtain-le-Val. And he had three daughters, the last of whom died in 2018. The castle is privately owned but can be viewed from various sides. For those, like me, who visited the village to find and follow the start of the Dijle, that private character is a pity - and also for heritage lovers of course. But at the point where you see a sign with the name of the river on the side of the domain you can see quite a bit, including how the river enters the domain. For those who want more information about the castle itself, visit this website for a virtual tour of the castle with a video report and interview: https://www.tvcom.be/info/focus-sur-genappe-visite-du-chateau-de-houtain-le-val-fonde-en-1126/50810

The ruin has since been renovated and is surrounded by rolling meadows with grazing animals...

And suddenly this castle from the 13th century appears in front of you...

Old castle occupied in 1219 by the Lords of Marbais. In the center of the courtyard stands a massive 12th or 13th century schist keep on 3 levels. Walls with a thickness of 1.80 m. It is a rare example of a fortress dating from this period. Burned in 1554 by the French king Henry II.

Very nice walk. The return via the "ridges" is a little less beautiful than the outward journey.

Tongrenelle Farm Castle, located in the hamlet of Tongrenelle, Belgium, was once part of a fortress in the County of Namur, first mentioned in 1209. The castle fell into disrepair and was completely destroyed in 1860, leaving only the farmhouse that preceded it. The buildings date from the 17th and 18th centuries and are surrounded by a moat fed by the River Ligne, which lends a certain charm to the site. However, the property is private and cannot be visited, so you can only admire it from a distance.

If you are looking for a medieval castle that has retained its original architecture and charm, you should visit the Château de Corroy-le-Château in the province of Namur, Belgium. There you will find a magnificent fortress surrounded by a moat, with four towers, a drawbridge and a chapel. The castle was built in the 13th century by the counts of Vianden to defend the border of the Duchy of Brabant against the counts of Flanders and Namur. You will be able to admire the impressive collection of weapons, armor, tapestries and furniture that belonged to the noble families who owned the castle over the centuries. The castle is open to visitors from May to September, on Sundays and public holidays. Don't miss this opportunity to travel back in time and discover the history and culture of this remarkable place.