Franchimont Castle

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The castle of Franchimont east-northeast

The ruins of the castle of Franchimont (French Château de Franchimont ) is located approximately eight kilometers from Spa on a ledge in the Ardennes in the municipal area of ​​the city Theux.

Franchimont is a former stronghold of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. The origin of the castle is a building from the 11th to the 12th century, which was supplemented by a large protective wall at the beginning of the 16th century. The first written mention dates back to 1156 from the time of Bishop Henry II of Liège.

From early times, the 6th and 7th centuries, Frankish burials and tombs originate in a neighboring town to today's hill.

In 1650 the castle is demilitarized, as she was attacked by the now developed artillery technology from the neighboring hills. Then they served mostly as a prison, but also as a summer residence of nobles.

1676 Louis XIV ordered the destruction, but it was only partially carried out. In the following century the castle was visited because of their peculiarities of some crowned heads. Since 1967 it is owned by a charitable foundation that performs restoration and maintenance work and excavations in the vicinity of the castle can make.

Today Franchimont is a tourist destination, with a railway station on the railway line Verviers- Spa - Géronstère.