Hermitage of Resteigne

The Hermitage was built in the Bois de Niau forest by Edmond d’Hoffschmidt (born in 1777), a former Napoleonic officer who became a legendary local figure. Following a heartbreak during a military campaign, he retired here in solitude for nearly 15 years. On this dry limestone soil, he built a comfortable home complete with a cellar, garden, aviary, and a rockwork tower serving as a grotto and lookout. An enlightened mind, he studied philosophy and classical authors such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Byron. In 1830, he inherited the castle and became mayor of Resteigne—a generous man who enjoyed playing playful pranks on his fellow villagers. Having fallen into ruin at the end of the 19th century, the remains were recently restored by the non-profit organization "Les Amis de l’Ermite de Resteigne."