Top 20 Castles around Havelange

The Château de Faulx-les-Tombes was originally built in the 10th century as a fortified tower, of which few remains remain of the medieval structure. Around 1340, the castle came into the possession of the Marbaix family. The castle changed hands several times and in 1665 came into the possession of Count Rasse Erasme de Corswaren, whose descendants retained the castle until the French Revolution. The western facade of the current building dates from 1563, but most of the castle was completely rebuilt between 1867 and 1872 in the Romantic style by architect Henri Beyaert, who also designed several famous buildings in Brussels. In 1961, the castle was severely damaged by fire, but it was fully restored to its original style. From 1972 onwards, it was owned by the municipality of Etterbeek and used for purposes including school trips and social tourism. The castle was converted into a hotel and restaurant, but the business eventually went bankrupt in 1988, and the property was put up for sale. Today, the castle is privately owned and not open to the public. It is idyllically situated in a wooded setting along the Samson River.

Durbuy is first mentioned in 1078 (as Dolbui) and in 1084 (under the current name). The first traces of habitation are found during excavations in the Anticlinaal cave by Count Pierre d'Ursel. The d'Ursel family still inhabits Durbuy Castle. Before the current castle, there were already others. Based on the archives of Luxembourg, a castle was destroyed and in the eleventh century, another was built by Henry II the Lame, who had received the domain from his mother Rageline, sister of Pope Stephen II, and her husband Albert II of Namur. Around 1156, that castle was severely damaged by flames and during the succession wars of the Duchy of Limburg, it was destroyed several more times. From 1412, Durbuy came into the hands of the House of Burgundy and at the end of the fifteenth century, the then-existing castle was destroyed by Maximilian of Austria, like all the castles of the la Marck family: besides Durbuy, these also include the castles of Logne and La Roche. In 1628, Baron Antoine Schetz of Grobendonck leased the Durbuy estate for 40,000 gold marks, a very considerable sum. Besides being a baron, he was also Count of Grobbendonk, Lord of Tilburg and Goirle, Pulle and Pulderbos, and Wezemaal. He was in the service of the Spanish and had led the defense of 's-Hertogenbosch during the Eighty Years' War. At the age of 71, he was also governor of the city of Leuven during the Siege of Leuven. And he was the first in a long line of the d'Ursel family who, to this day, inhabit the castle. In 1731, the castle was rebuilt by the then Duke of Ursel. Countess Auguste d'Ursel, who acquired the d'Ursel family's possessions in Durbuy, then modernized the castle from 1880 to 1882 with the help of architect Thirian from Namur. During the Second World War, the castle was occupied several times and in 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, it was used as a field hospital by the American liberators, with the billiard table serving as an operating table. Sources: historical overviews in Word documents on the website of Count Jean-Michel d'Ursel, current resident, at https://www.chateaudedurbuy.be/historique.html

Built in the Middle Ages, only the keep and a few architectural elements remain from that period. After its partial destruction in the mid-17th century, it was restored and transformed into an elegant pleasure palace. The French-style park and gardens, redesigned in the 19th century, are part of the Parks and Gardens of Wallonia, designated as an exceptional cultural heritage site. They are free to enter during the castle's opening hours. Magnificent rose beds adorn the grounds. To learn more about the park and its grounds, you can download audio guides at https://www.modave-castle.be/les_jardins. Source: https://visitwallonia.de/de/content/ausergewohnlichen-garten-das-schloss-von-modave

Opening Hours: From March 30 to November 15 Daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last admission at 4:45 PM) Closed on Mondays (except public holidays and July/August) Special opening at Christmas Further information can be found on the Modave Castle website: https://www.modave-castle.be/infos_pratiques

The footbridge over the Ourthe in Durbuy offers a beautiful view of the river and the surrounding nature. This pedestrian bridge connects the charming old town with the green opposite side and offers a unique perspective on the smallest town in Belgium.

Located on the banks of the Ourthe River, the village of Durby is picturesque thanks to its rich history and remarkably well-preserved architecture. It is considered the smallest village in the world. The downside is that it attracts large crowds during the summer months.

The colorful K-dolls (giant dolls) welcome us in the smallest city in the world. Streets, alleys and squares are filled with culinary bon vivants and sweet tooths. The old legendary castle is today only a shadow of a legend and appears to be passé for the occasional day tripper. New legends have taken over Durbuy and embraced it financially. Wout Bru (Chef Le Sanglier des Ardennes) enjoys his terrace while his cash register rings… Wonderful vapors swirl down in the old meander of the Ourthe. People stick together in the narrow alleys to catch a glimpse of the gingerbread house Désirée Durbuy. Roger Van Damme has taken up post at his fence and gradually allows sweet tooths into his 'Chocolate Factory'. In all this hustle and bustle, Marc Coucke (entrepreneur – multi-millionaire) tries to attract the flow of people to his tourist train with 'cookies'. Unfortunately, his honeyed talk is not for us. We leave the crumbs for what they are... It's getting too busy for us, the fence is down. Understanding, Roger nods, Wout swallows and we leave Marc, who feels like a king, at 'his Boudewijn Park'. Along the old meander we quickly seek out other and higher spheres. Want to read our full experience? Click through to https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/tour/554840000

Modave Castle is surrounded by a beautiful park, which is part of a 450 hectare nature reserve. You can enjoy the French gardens, the views of the valley, and the walks in the woods.