Thy-le-Château Castle

Thy-le-Château Castle, locally known as Château de Thy-le-Château, lies in the village of the same name, in the province of Namur in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

Thy-le-Château Castle was first mentioned at the end of the 12th century. It was owned by Henry IV, 'the Blind', Count of Namur. However, legend says that the castle was built by Jean, a local lord who had taken part in the capture of Tyre during the Crusades in 1124 and who, upon returning, designed Thy-le-Château Castle based on the plan of Tyre.

In 1188, Thy-le-Château Castle was besieged by armed troops of Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut, and was taken by force. In 1190, Baldwin presented the castle to his brother William, known as 'Saint-Sauve'.

Over the centuries, the castle changed hands among several families, including de Neuville, de Werchin, de Barbençon-Jeumont, de Melun, de Ligne, and de Croÿ.

By 1790, Thy-le-Château Castle was empty, burned by revolutionaries, and in ruins. In 1830, the ruins were purchased by the Hanseval family and used as barns. Over time, various buildings were constructed against and within the ruins. In 1870, the main structure served as a brewery.

In 1910, the castle was bought by Louis Piret, a local ironmaster, who began restoring it to its medieval appearance in 1920. The newer buildings were torn down, and archaeological excavations were carried out, with the findings guiding the restoration to its medieval look, which was completed in 1939.

On May 14, 1940, however, the German air force bombed a French military convoy near the castle, destroying it. After World War II, Louis Piret resumed rebuilding Thy-le-Château Castle, and the restored castle visible today is the result of that effort.

Currently, Thy-le-Château Castle is private property and hosts cultural activities. It's a beautiful castle in a quiet village.

Gallery