Franchimont Castle
| Franchimont Castle | |
|---|---|
 The Franchimont castle complex in the east-north-east |
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| Alternative name (s): | Château de Franchimont |
| Creation time : | 11th to 12th centuries |
| Castle type : | Rock castle |
| Conservation status: | Ruin, partly rebuilt |
| Place: | Theux |
| Geographical location | 50 ° 31 '39.7 " N , 5 ° 49' 26" E |
The ruins of Franchimont Castle ( French Château de Franchimont ) stand on a rocky outcrop in the Ardennes in the municipality of the city of Theux, about eight kilometers from Spa .
Franchimont is a former fortress of the Principality of Liège . The origin of the castle complex was a building from the 11th to 12th centuries, which was supplemented by a large protective wall at the beginning of the 16th century. The first written mention dates back to 1156 from the time of Bishop Henry II of Liège .
Franconian burials and tombs on a hill next to the present-day location date from an earlier period, the 6th and 7th centuries.
Around 1650 the castle was demilitarized because it was attackable from the neighboring hills by the artillery technology developed in the meantime . After that it served mostly as a prison, but also as a summer residence for aristocrats .
In 1676 Louis XIV ordered the destruction, but it was only partially carried out. In the following century the castle was visited by a few crowned heads for its peculiarities. Since 1967 it has belonged to a non-profit foundation that has carried out restoration and maintenance work and excavations in the area around the castle.
Today Franchimont is a tourist destination, with a train stop on the Verviers – Spa-Géronstère line .
literature
- Luc François Genicot: Le grand livre des châteaux de Belgique . Volume 1. Vokaer, Brussels 1975, pp. 122-124.
- Castles & fortresses in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. A tour of discovery . GEV, Eupen 2002, ISBN 90-5433-159-3 , pp. 149-151.
Web links
- Castle website (French, Dutch)
