Bouillon

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A city in southeastern Belgium, on the Semois River, in the Ardennes, in the province of Luxembourg. Due to its location, it is called the pearl of the Semois valley. What attracts countless tourists to this area is undoubtedly the dark, medieval castle. Although the first mention of the city appeared in 988, it is not there is no doubt that Bouillon existed centuries before that date.

The princes of the House of Ardenne (Godfrey was the fifth and last of this line) owned the castle until 1096, when Godfrey of Bouillon sold the entire duchy belonging to him to Otbert, Bishop of Liege. Godfrey of Bouillon was a member of the First Crusade. He conquered Jerusalem and the title of Defender of the Holy Sepulcher. He was denied the right to wear the royal crown and died in the Holy Land in 1100.

Bouillon remained in the possession of the Prince-Bishop of Liège for nearly six centuries. At the beginning of the 16th century he had to share power with the powerful La Marc family. In 1678, the troops of King Louis XIV of France captured the castle after a twenty-day siege. The town, castle and duchy were passed on to the La Tour d'Averagne family On October 26, 1795, Bouillon was incorporated into the French Republic. After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, under the Second Treaty of Paris, Bouillon was annexed to the Netherlands, and after Belgium obtained in 1830, independence became part of the newly established Belgian state.

Bouillon Castle - guardian of the Semois Valley

The most magnificent and at the same time the most recognizable showcase of Bouillon. It is a witness to history that has existed in this place for over a thousand years. Over the centuries, it changed owners, the most famous of which was Godfrey of Bouillon, a participant in the First Crusade to the Holy Land. Due to the lack of historical documents, it is difficult to determine the exact date of construction of the castle. What is certain, however, is that it was built to protect the north-south passage between Lower and Upper Lorraine.

This magnificent feudal castle is an example of a structure composed of several independent parts that could defend themselves independently, but their purpose was the idea of common defense. It fits into the canon of military architecture, which states that each subsequent element of a defensive structure must be higher than the preceding one. There are many arrowslits here, arranged one above the other in the wall. This allowed for firing in various directions.

The greatest changes to the castle were made by Vauban, who arrived here on the orders of King Louis XIV. This outstanding architect noticed the castle's excellent defensive capabilities. There are three sections here. The first two are the smallest. Additionally, they were reinforced with a defensive wall filled with gun slits. The final, southern section is the largest and strongest. It was also reinforced by Vauban, who ordered the construction of defensive walls filled with gun slits. They allowed firing only in three directions: 45 degrees to the left, straight ahead and 45 degrees to the right. However, they provided incredible protection for the castle's defenders. The semicircular tower in this wall is also the work of Vauban. He also created a round gunpowder tower with a gun placed on its roof. there was a cannon.

The highest point of the castle is the Austrian Tower, converted into an artillery tower by Prince-Bishop of Liège, George of Austria, in 1551. It had embrasures on each side. Originally, the Austrian tower was a roofed shelter for gunners from enemy fire. Below the Austrian tower were two batteries of cannons that could cover the entire valley between them.

In the 19th century, during the period when the Dutch ruled here, they made several changes. They demolished the main tower, the chapel and the administrator's house, but added several barracks and an arsenal. Since the mid-19th century, the castle of Bouillon he started fall into ruin. Fortunately, it has become a tourist attraction and today you can admire it for a small fee. The castle is entered through three gate-bridges, connecting three independent parts of the castle.

Inside the castle, there are, among other things, dungeons where we can see torture devices, as well as weapons and costumes of the castle defenders. A major attraction is the Godfrey Hall carved into the rock. In its floor there is a wooden cross with carvings depicting the history of the castle. In summer, in the courtyard you can see the local falconer breeding birds (eagles, hawks, falcons and African vultures).

Address:

Château Fort
Esplanade Godefroid 1
6830 Bouillon

Opening hours:

Holidays: 10.00-18.30,
Last entry 45 minutes before closing.

Fare:

7 euros

After visiting the castle, it is worth visiting the Ducal Museum . It is located on the same hill as the castle. Various items related to Godfrey's crusade were collected here, in two adjacent buildings. Exhibitions dedicated to the folklore and history of the city and region were also created.

Address:

Musée Ducal 1-3 Rue du Petit, 6830 Bouillon

Opening hours:

Monday-Sunday: 10.00-18.00
from October 1: 10:00-17:00

Fare

Adults: 4 Euros

Those interested in the history of Godefroid of Bouillon should definitely visit the Archéoscope Godefroid de Bouillon historical centre, located in an old monastery. Particularly noteworthy is the audiovisual show that takes visitors back a thousand years, to the times of the first expedition. of the Cross to Jerusalem, commanded by Godfrey of Bouillon.

Address:

Quai des Saulx 14
6830 Bouillon

Opening hours:

July-August: 10.00-18.00
rest of the year: info on the museum website

Fare:

5.5 euros

Additional information:

Bouillon is not only a centuries-old history, but also a paradise for nature and sports fans. For them, Semois Kayakas organizes kayaking trips on the Semois River. You can choose between the three-hour Bouillon-Poupehan route (15 km) or the one-hour Poupehan-Frahan-sur Semois route (5 km).

The purchase of a city card, priced at 11 Euro, allows entry to the castle, Archéoscope Godefroid de Bouillon, and the Ducal museum.