Harzé Castle

The Harzé Castle located in the same district of the municipality Aywaille in the province of Liège in the Walloon region of Belgium.

History

Ownership

The first owner of the property was the family de Clermont at the beginning of the 14th century, who built a fortified complex at this point. In the aftermath Harzé changed hands several times. This changed with the marriage of Margaret de la Marck with Jean de Ligne 1547.

In the 17th century the castle was given its present appearance in 1631 as Count Ernest van Suys the heiress Ernestine van Linden married and had carried out large construction projects in the following period. So the castle was built with the round towers, two massive towers are still standing. In the following period the castle was owned by the family of Eynatten and the de Rahier family.

Since 1965 the castle is a listed building. In 1973 it acquired the province of Liege, who uses it today as a conference center.

Battle of the Bulge

The castle served in World War II during the Battle of the Bulge from the October 29, 1944 as the headquarters of the American forces, XVIII. U.S. Airborne Corps under Major General Matthew B. Ridgway. On December 28, 1944 met in the Palace of the Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower with Ridgway. Reminded a plaque at the entrance of the castle.

Milling and bakery museum

In the old farmhouse of the castle is this craft museum. In six exhibition rooms of the way of the wheat harvest on the traditional mills in the Middle Ages to the baker's shop in the early 20th century is shown with its many exhibits. The museum shows the development of the water-driven mill towards first industrial mills. Visitors can learn about the entire process an authentic water mill, millstones and moving by hydraulic force and gears. Later in the production of bakery products, pastry of the Napoleonic period is shown to the postwar period. For working machines from the everyday life of the bakery are presented as well as utensils and hand tool for ice and chocolate.