Waroux Tower

The Waroux Tower, locally known as Tour des Waroux or Tour Romane, stands in a small public park in the center of the town of Amay, in the Liège province in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

The Waroux Tower was built in the 12th century from sandstone and limestone. The tower house overlooked the Meuse valley just outside the medieval settlement. It was constructed to house a custody holder, a layman from a noble family, whom the Bishop of Liège granted the advowson of Amay. In later centuries, it likely only housed a small garrison. With the advent of artillery, it lost its strategic importance and became more of a prestige building, a symbol of social advancement and economic power.

In the 14th century, the custodian of the Waroux Tower was a knight named Rasse de Warfusée de Waroux, who gave the tower its current name. From the 15th to the 20th century, it was held by members of the Périlheux de Rochelée family. Since 1971, the tower has been owned by the municipality of Amay and has undergone restoration.

The tower is nearly 16 meters tall, and until the early 20th century, it was surrounded by a moat. It has four floors.

Currently, the Waroux Tower is not accessible. I saw signs indicating it should house a small bar and shop, but they were closed when I visited. It didn't appear as though they had been open recently.

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