Castle of Vêves

P3

The castle of Celle Castle Veves also called (French Vêves ) belongs to the most remarkable fortresses of the Middle Ages in Belgium. It is located on a tributary of the Lesse, a few kilometers from the district of the municipality of Celles Houyet, in the Walloon province of Namur.

History of Owners

The origins of the hilltop castle date back to the Middle Pippin or Pepin of Herstal ( 670-714 ), who chose this strategic location on the hill above the road Dinant -Rochefort also because of its proximity to the hermitage of Saint Hadelin in Celles for fixing should.

Proven since the 12th century was the fief of Celles- Vêves and the castle became the property of the lords of Beaufort. Wauthier of Beaufort ( died 1196) was by marrying Ode of Brittany Lord of Celles.

In 1466 the Castle of Beaufort Mr. Ludwig took part in the siege of Dinant, when the city was destroyed by the powerful and last Burgundian duke Charles the Bold.

Countess Marie- Robertine of Beaufort, heiress of the title Baroness of Celles, married in 1761, Jacques -Ignace of Gavre, the Count of Liedekerke. Her son Hilarion of Gavre, was the first Count of Liedekerke Beaufort. Since that time, the castle remained in the possession of Liedekerke Beaufort family.

Hilarion of Gavre, Baron of Celles, marshal in the king's court of the Netherlands, married Julie, daughter of Viscount Desandrouin, treasurer of the Austrian Netherlands, and granddaughter of the Earl of Neny, President of the Austrian Netherlands.

Her son, Auguste of Gavre, Count of Liedekerke Beaufort de Celles (1789-1855), Ambassador of the Netherlands for the Papal States, in 1813 married Charlotte ( 1792-1822 ), the daughter of the Marquise de la Tour du Pin Gouvernet, born Henriette- Lucy Dillon. The la Tour the Pin family goes back to the former rulers of the Dauphiné.

Her son, Hadelin of Gavre was very involved in Belgian politics and lived as the last heir to the castle.

In order to secure the future of the castle, the Count Hadelin founded a so-called asbl. (French Association sans but lucratif, German: Association non-profit ) is a legal form of the nonprofit association.

The next heir Count Aymar (1846-1909) and his son Count Hadelin (1887-1974) lived no longer on the castle, but were concerned about the maintenance of the property.

The castle club was led by Count Christian de Liedekerke Beaufort ( 1927-1992 ). Since 1986, his son, the Count of Liedekerke Beaufort Hadelin (* 1955) for the leadership of the nonprofit association and the preservation of the castle cares.

Short Description

The castle, which was built in 1230 after the destruction in 1200, burned at the beginning of the 15th century from almost complete. The basic form of the castle complex is like an irregular triangle, surrounded by four large and two smaller towers. In the Renaissance period, the castle was completely rebuilt. In the time of Louis XVI. further changes have been made, especially on the interior, the wood paneling, alcoves and exterior windows. With government assistance extensive restoration work was carried out under the patronage of Count Christian de Liedekerke Beaufort 1969-1979. The individual rooms of the castle were decorated with furniture from the 18th century in the possession of the Countess de Morte Athénais Mart.