Le château féodal

The feudal castle built by Duke Waleran of Limbourg was already heavily fortified at its beginnings, because in 1101, it resisted for more than one month against a siege by the army of the German Emperor Heinrich IV.Situated at the furthest northern point of the fortified town, stood at a height of 80 metres overlooking the Vesdre Valley and Dolhain, Limbourg Castle dominated its surroundings. It was the fulcrum of the stronghold. Five large towers stood at the corners of the castle.In 1504, a violent fire almost entirely destroyed it. Its reconstruction lasted form 1519 to 1530. The defensive system was modified thanks to progress on fortification building and artillery.The ruins produced through different successive sieges increasingly reduced the importance of the castle in the defence of the stronghold.Some of the besiegers:1578: Alexandre Farnèse in command of the Spanish army1632: Dutch troops1635: the Spanish once again1675: the army of Louis XIV. Before handing the castle over to the Spanish once again, Louis XIV had the former town destroyed.1703: the English and Dutch armies commanded by the Duke of Marlborough1715: Charles VI, the Emperor of AustriaThroughout this century, the castle remained in ruins and was only used as a site for a few defensive batteries. The stronghold was definitively downgraded in 1781.In 1783, the land of the former castle covered in ruins were bought by the high court judge J. J. Ernst.In the 19th century, Julien d’Andrimont became owner and had a small romantic manor built, which was unfortunately destroyed by the German army on 28th August 1914. Only the buildings to the left of the railings remained untouched.After the war, the property belonged to Architect Jean Lejaer, who built a pergola in the place of the burned down manor. Afterwards, notary Guy de Potter became owner and had the various buildings restored and the grounds redeveloped.