Vêves Castle

Vêves Castle, locally known as Château de Vêves, lies a couple of kilometers southwest of the village of Celles, in the province of Namur in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

The first castle at this site was probably built in the early 8th century by Pepin de Herstal. He built his castle on a strategic spot—a rocky outcrop in a valley along the old route from Dinant to Rochefort. Not much is known about this initial castle. In the 12th century, the castle passed to Wauthier de Beaufort through marriage. The Beaufort family took their name from their Beaufort Castle near the town of Huy in Belgium. Several family members distinguished themselves in the Crusades; Wauthier's grandfather followed Godfried of Bouillon to the Holy Land, and Wauthier's son, Théodore de Celles, took part in the 3rd Crusade.

In 1200, the castle burned down but was rebuilt in 1230. During the War of the Cow (1275-1277), the Lords of Beaufort fought alongside the Count of Luxembourg and the Count of Namur. Later, Gérard de Beaufort distinguished himself in the Battle of the Golden Spur (1302) and the Battle of Pevelenberg (1304). In 1466, Louis de Beaufort participated in the siege of Dinant, and Vêves Castle burned down for the second time. It was rebuilt once more.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Lords of Beaufort and their wives played important roles in French, Belgian, and Dutch politics. Through marriage, their family name became De Liedekerke Beaufort. In the 20th century, Count Hadelin de Liedekerke de Beaufort worked to open Vêves Castle to visitors. He donated the castle to a foundation that restored it under the leadership of his son, Christian.

The oldest parts of the current castle date back to the 13th century. One of these features is the 36-meter-high keep. It has a diameter of 8 meters and walls that are 3 meters thick at the base. Today, we see the castle as it appeared in the 17th century. Initially, the walls and towers would have had crenellations and a wall walk, but these features disappeared during 15th-century renovations.

For a small fee, you can visit Vêves Castle. You are free to explore all its rooms, most of which are furnished with 18th-century furniture. This is a stunning castle and definitely worth seeing!

Gallery