Burbant Tower

Burbant Tower, locally known as Tour Burbant, stands in the center of the town of Ath, in the province of Hainaut in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

This massive square keep is a good example of military architecture from the early Middle Ages. It is one of the northernmost examples of an English-Norman-style keep on the European mainland.

The 20-meter-high keep was built in 1166 by Baldwin IV, Count of Hainaut. It protected the northern border of Hainaut against the county of Flanders. The 14 by 14 meter square keep had five floors and walls that are 4 meters thick. The original entrance was on the first floor and accessible only via retractable stairs.

During the 13th century, the defenses of Burbant Tower underwent major changes. By 1328 at the latest, a first enclosure was built. A second enclosure followed between 1359 and 1377. The keep mainly served as a prison. The entrance on the first floor was turned into a window. Also, the crenelations at the top of the keep disappeared.

In the 16th century, the keep was topped with a Renaissance spire, which no longer exists.

When I visited, the Burbant Tower was closed, sadly enough. You can only visit by appointment. I think this is a very nice castle. It’s a pity that over the centuries, much of its original defensive walls have been incorporated into houses. That’s why today, you can hardly see anything besides the keep. Still, it’s worth a visit.

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