BOUILLON FORTRESS

Situated on a rocky spur overlooking the River Semois and dominating the town of Bouillon, this castle impresses with its stature and austere appearance. And with good reason: this medieval fortress is the oldest and one of the most interesting in Belgium. Its first fortifications date back to the ^8th century, although its existence is not attested until 988, just before the construction of its majestic keep (destroyed by the Dutch). It was inhabited by the famous knight Godefroy de Bouillon, who sold it to finance his first crusade (1096) to the Holy Land. On his death in 1100, the castle became the property of the Prince-Bishops of Liège, then again of the Dukes of Bouillon, and remained so until the French Revolutionaries conquered it in 1794. The château was extensively remodeled in the ^16th century, and two centuries later under Vauban (during the wars of Louis XIV). In 1815, it became Dutch, then Belgian again, but after the Battle of Sedan in 1870, the Prussian army used it as a hospital. Today, it's a peaceful museum, but it has nevertheless retained its medieval character: narrow corridors, stone staircases, secret passages, dungeons... A visit gives an idea of life in the Middle Ages, still plagued by war. The panorama from the castle and its surroundings is impressive.

Falconry. There's also an exhibition on hunting, with free-flying birds of prey. Interactive shows with the public and the birds of prey.