Updated:
16-dec-2009



I visited this tower in 2004.

Aynechon Tower lies near the village of Rutten, south of the town of Tongeren (Tongres in French), in Belgium.

Aynechon Tower is a towerhouse situated in a depression in the terrain, which can be flooded by damming a nearby stream. Originally the present ground floor would be a cellar only reachable from the first floor. The original entrance to the tower was situated on the east side on the second floor level. This entrance would be reached via a removable wooden staircase.

Aynechon Tower lies only a small kilometer from the, still inhabited, Hamal Castle, which also originated from a towerhouse.

The castle got its name from one of its former owners; Aynechon, bastard of the Lord of Hognoul and member of the Awans party. This Aynechon played a part in the war between the Awans and Waroux families which ravaged this region from 1290 till 1334. He killed a champion knight, called Faloz, of the Waroux family during a judicial duel in front of the cathedral of Luik (Liège in French). It is said Aynechon used a ruse; he arrived deliberatly late at the place of the duel. This caused his adversary to start fighting already fatigued from waiting in the sun in his armor.

This is about all the historical info I could gather out of books and the internet. If someone has some more, please mail me.

The castle is now situated in the middle of a field and can not be visited.

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