#wallonia

[kristo-flowers]

Hills of Braine-le-comte

[kristo-flowers]

tracks

[coffeenuts]

[xavierbautistagarcia]

A French Château in the heart of Belgium

The Château de Celles, also known as the Château de Vêves, is one of the most notable examples of 15th-century military architecture in the Belgian region of Wallonia. According to tradition and the chronicles, the origins of the original castle date back to the time of Pepin of Herstal (670–714), drawn by the presence of Saint Hadelin and by the hill's favourable position, which overlooks and controls the ancient road from Dinant to Rochefort.

Pepin of Heristal was first the palatine mayor of the court of Austrasia and then of Neustria and Burgundy, the nuclei that would later constitute the Kingdom of the Franks, which extended northwards into Frisia and westwards into Germania, including present-day Wallonia.

By the late 12th century, the castle remained in the hands of the Beaufort family, at which time it was destroyed, only to be rebuilt around 1230. In the early 15th century, the Château de Vêves was almost completely destroyed by fire, but was later restored.

In 1466, the lord of the castle, Louis de Beaufort, took part in the siege of Dinant, during which the city was destroyed by Charles the Bold, the powerful and last Duke of Burgundy. The castle remained a fortress until the end of the Middle Ages.

During the Renaissance, the buildings underwent a complete transformation. Later, under the reign of Louis XV, in the early 18th century, further modifications were made, mainly to the interior layout, by the Liedekerke-Beaumont family.

In 1793, during the French Revolution, the castle suffered serious damage, although subsequent restorations gave it its present appearance, preserving its plan, which forms an irregular triangle flanked by four large towers and two smaller ones.

[daphnevermeer]

A friend read my novel 'The Night Shift' and told me "Very captivating! In fact one evening I stayed up late because I had to see that [spoiler alert]. I am seriously impressed by your creativity." and then went on to say "Also I did not know Belgians kissed so much." YES Wallonians really do kiss that much! All genders kiss each other on the cheek at every greeting! Pass a friend who's queuing outside the bakery? Kiss. See your coworkers at the office in the morning? Kiss. Arrive at the pub where there's eight people already seated? You are going around the table to kiss all of them.

[postcard-from-the-past]

Last portrait of Marie Henriette Anne of Austria, Queen consort of the Belgians in 1902 at Spa, Wallonia, Belgium

Belgian vintage postcard

[explorateursoutdoor]

Promenade des Vallées : entre vallon et plateau hesbignon

La promenade des vallées à Villers-le-Bouillet révèle une transition unique entre vallon boisé, ancienne mine et plateau limoneux hesbignon.

[tatmanblue]

Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve by Laurent Pagès