Montquintin Castle

Montquintin Castle, locally known as Château de Montquintin or Château de Hontheim, is situated in the rural village of the same name, southwest of the town of Virton, in the province of Luxembourg in Belgium, close to the French border.

The oldest parts of Montquintin Castle date back to the 14th century. It was built by the Counts of Chiny. Originally, it was a square fortress with circular towers at each corner.

It’s possible that the site where it was constructed was also used by the Romans as a lookout point for its strategic views over the lands of Gaume, surrounded by the valleys of three brooks: the Ton, the Vire, and the Chiers. Over the centuries, it was repeatedly attacked and destroyed by French troops in 1480, 1542, and 1647, but each time it was rebuilt.

In 1760, Jean-Nicolas de Hontheim became the owner of Montquintin Castle. He was the bishop of Trier and a respected member of the clergy. Under the pseudonym Justinus Febronius, he published a book and was favored by Empress Maria Theresa and Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor. He died at Montquintin Castle in 1790.

In 1794, the castle was once again attacked and severely damaged, this time by French forces under General Jourdan. In 1803, it was rebuilt by Jacques de Hontheim, a cousin and heir of Jean-Nicolas. He transformed the castle into a U-shape, with its fourth side closed off by an iron gate. The castle suffered major damage from fires in 1869 and 1931, and even in 1940, it was hit by shells from the Maginot Line.

Today, the castle stands as a very charming ruin, with only two corner towers remaining (the other two were demolished in 1770 and 1830). As far as I know, the castle ruins are open to the public. However, be cautious, as during my visit, there appeared to be ongoing archaeological excavations and restoration work.

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