Bailli Castle

Bailli Castle, locally known as Maison du Bailli, lies on a hill in the town of Gembloux, in the province of Namur in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

Well, this is not truly a castle, but I have added it anyway. It was built on the foundations of an older building, which was, as its name indicates, the residence or workplace of the town's bailiff, who was appointed by the abbot-count. Of that former building, nothing remains but two cellars, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, underneath the present building.

In 1589, the abbey gave up its property and sold it to the Salmier family, who built the present castle. At that time, the castle was a square building with one circular corner tower.

In 1937, it was enlarged on the west side with a modern tower. Other modifications had already been made to the building during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the castle is used by the municipality. Its interior can not be visited.

The castle was built next to the old town ramparts. Two towers of those ramparts remain, one near the castle, called Tour du Guet, and another one, called Tour des Sarrasins.

Gallery

 The two wall towers during an earlier visit