Château de Walhain - Brabant Wallon, Belgique - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

Source : inscriptions sur le panneau (informations disponibles en 4 langues : français, anglais, néerlandais et allemand).

[FR]
Erigé par les seigneurs de Walhain à la limite du Duché de Brabant et du Comté de Namur dès la fin du XIIe siècle, le complexe castral aujourd'hui en ruines présente des vestiges de différentes époques.
L'élément majeur est un donjon circulaire conservé sur une vingtaine de mètres de haut. Ses trois niveaux comprennent une salle voûtée au rez-de-chaussée, un étage de jour et enfin, un étage de nuit.
Au XIIIe siècle, ce donjon devient la tour maîtresse d'un dispositif de plan polygonal irrégulier comprenant trois tours reliées par des courtines doublées de douves.
Lorsqu'il passe aux mains de la famille de Glimes au XVe siècle, le château change progressivement de fonction grâce à la construction d'une vaste aile résidentielle.
Moins d'un siècle plus tard, la seigneurie est érigée en comté par Charles Quint. Cette prospérité n'est cependant que de courte durée et le château est laissé à l'abandon par ses propriétaires successifs. Aujourd'hui, il est la propriété de l'Institut du Patrimoine Wallon.

[EN]
Built by the lords of Walhain along the border between the Duchy of Brabant and the County of Namur from the end of the twelth century, this castle complex, which is in ruins today, contains vestiges from different periods.
The main construction consists of the round keep, of which a twenty meter high portion has been conserved. The keep was made up of three levels : a room with an arched ceiling on the ground floor; a level for daytime use; a level for use at night.
In the thirteenth century, the keep becomes the main tower of a complex shaped like an irregular polygon including three towers connected by curtain walls and protected by two moats.
When it is acquired by the Glimes family, the castle gradually becomes residential in character and a large residential wing is built.
In 1532, Charles Quint turns the seigniory into a County, making the peak of his time in power. However, this period of splendour is only short-lived, and the castle is left in a state of neglect by its successive owners. The Institue of Walloon Heritage is now the owner of the castle.

Group that erected the marker: Gift from Mr and Mrs Paul and Ding Young URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link] Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Rue du Vieux Château Walhain, Brabant Wallon Belgium 1457

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