Trazegnies Castle

The Trazegnies Castle (French Château de Trazegnies ) is in the village of Courcelles Trazegnies the Belgian municipality in the province of Hainaut in the Walloon region of Belgium.

Through the gate from the 13th century, the visitor enters the courtyard of the castle. There is a natural monument: a 300 year old tree that dominates the courtyard.

History

Originally the castle of Gilles I. de Trazegnies was built. Romanesque cellar testify to the early beginnings of the castle in the 11th century. The lords of Trazegnies were often involved in the crusades. Otton II de Trazegnies (ca. 1150-1192 ) fought on the side of King Richard of England and died at the siege of Saint -Jean d' Arce, the first military operation of importance during the Third Crusade. His son Gilles II de Trazegnies sold some of his land in order to take part in the Fourth Crusade can. Gilles III. de Trazegnies was appointed by the French king to the commander of the army of Sain Louis and participated in the seventh and eighth crusade.

In 1554 the castle was sacked by the troops of the French king Henry II. End of the 16th century the castle was repaired. Under Gillion - Othon de Trazegnies it was rebuilt in the early 17th century as a summer residence, and thus one of the few examples in Belgium for the design of the façade in the style of Louis XIII. With the death of Alexander, the last Marquis de Trazegnies in 1862, the property came into the possession of his niece the mining company Bascoup. Since 1913 the castle is owned by the Belgian State.