The Castle of Bouillon: a medieval gem in Wallonia

Dominating the small town of Bouillon, the chateau lies high on a ridge overlooking the town and the River Semois, the castle is a remarkable monument in the province of Luxembourg, retracing almost a thousand years of history and military architecture.

Do not miss the falconry demonstrations, for a full medieval atmosphere.

The castle's history

Constructed in the 10th century on a strategic crossroads between Reims, Liège and Aix-la-Chapelle, the chateau was in the 18th century radically rebuilt by Louis XIV’s military genius Vauban and is now considered to be one of the most beautiful medieval castles in Belgium. Today visitors can explore the extraordinary maze of tunnels and passageways leading through dark dungeons to lofty battlements, towers and embattlements with vertiginous views over the river below. The chambers of the fortress are lined with weaponry dating back to the 16th century and there is an intriguing explanation of how the chateau could survive a lengthy siege, with a long tunnel stretching down to a well 30 metres below which also served as a secret supply of foodstuffs smuggled in from the river.

You can combine your visit with the nearby Archéoscope Godefroid de Bouillon and Ducal Museum.

The castle's cheese cellar

Here is where the œillet du château, an exceptional hard cheese made by The Bergerie d'Acremont, a sheephold with Belgian ewes and so much more and which recipe dates from the Middle Ages, is aged. Visitors can buy this delicacy at the Bergerie d'Acremont and in deli shops in Bouillon.

Visitors with specific needs