Bouillon Castle
The impregnable fortress that was home to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon (1060-1100),
who was briefly the Crusader King of Jerusalem, still towers majestically over the
slate roofs of the town beneath its walls on the bank of the River Semois..
Duke Godfrey’s participation in the First Crusade (1095-1099) has given rise to a host of legends about visitors to his castle, including King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, King Richard the Lionheart of England and Robin Hood. Some of these are mentioned in The Da Vinci Code.
View from the city center
A strategic fortress
Duke Godfrey oversaw the construction of the castle we can visit today on a high rocky outcrop in a bend of the river in around 1080. Following his death, childless in Jerusalem, his Will left his duchy to the Prince-Bishop of Liège. Its strategic position between France and the Holy Roman Empire meant it was besieged many times, but never fell.
Fauconnerie en famille
Rives de la Semois à Bouillon
Boucle de la Semois à Bouillon
Bouillon in modern times
King Louis XIV of France’s great military architect Vauban reinforced the castle’s defences in the seventeenth century, when it served as the guardian of the gateway to France. Under subsequent Dutch and Belgian rule, the fortress was allowed to run down, but it never lost its majestic dominance over the town, which became a major tourist attraction, especially for French day-trippers who came to buy tobacco and petrol (cheaper here than in France) and drink a few delicious beers before returning home.
An insight into mediaeval life
Visitors climb the winding path up to the castle today to enjoy a range of events and displays that recount the fortress’s thousand years of history. Events include falconry and jousting and an annual Mediaeval Fair. Permanent displays include the Archéoscope (an interactive exhibition about the crusades) and the Ducal Museum. One entrance ticket covers all of these. Afterwards, visitors can explore the banks of the River Semois and visit the Epine watermill and Cordemoy Abbey.
Spectacular and refreshing !
It’s easy to imagine yourself as a member of the garrison defending the fortress from the enemy, using an underground passage to draw water from the river and to stock up with food from the town, and thus to endure months of siege, even in winter. Another thrill is to wake up early in the morning and watch the fortress emerge from the river mist from your hotel window. Then you can blow away those cobwebs with an exhilarating hike or mountain-bike ride or canoe trip along the valley as you succumb to the charms of this enchanting place.
Bouillon en famille
Bouillon sous la neige
Restaurant avec vue sur Bouillon
More information
Esplanade Godefroid de Bouillon 1 , 6830 Bouillon, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0) 61 46 42 02
info@bouillon-initiative.be
www.chateaudebouillon.com
