Sombreffe Castle

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Courtyard of the castle

The Château de Sombreffe is located on the plains castle near Sombreffe in the province of Namur ( Wallonia, Belgium). The history of the site dates back to the 13th century and is today as Patrimoine majeur de Wallonie ( Higher Walloon Heritage ) classified.

History

The castle was originally a fortress of defense of the Duchy of Brabant - as well Corroy -le- Château, Gembloux, Opprebais and Walhain. In the 13th century it consisted of a simple Donjon, which belonged to the lords of Orbais. In the course of the century included the owner with an unconnected Bruchsteinumwallung. Later, a second sandstone wall and the northern Donjon reinforced the defenses.

1446 was the castle by marriage to the family Vernembourg (of Virneburg ), which they held until 1543. Then it came to the families Culembourg, Lalang, Ligne, Oignies last Lannoy.

At the end of the 16th century, the upper part of the central donjon, which housed the stately residence, one was destroyed by fire, but was listed in the following century in brick masonry again.

In the mid-18th century a new residence was built by Duke Eugène de Lannoy de la Motterie, the military governor of Brussels, next to the central residential tower, attached further agricultural buildings in the 19th century. Thanks to this defense capabilities rather debilitating features the property has remained relatively undamaged and shows so still its medieval character.