BOUILLON FORTRESS

Located on a rocky spur overlooking the Semois river and dominating the town of Bouillon, this castle impresses by its stature and its austere appearance. And for 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, even if its existence is only attested from 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. After his death in 1100, the castle became the property of the prince-bishops of Liege, then of the dukes of Bouillon again, and remained so until the conquest of the French Revolutionaries in 1794. The castle was heavily modified in the 16th century, then two centuries later under Vauban (during the wars of Louis XIV). In 1815, it became Dutch, became Belgian again, but after the battle of Sedan in 1870, the Prussian army used it as a hospital. Today, it is a peaceful museum, but it has nevertheless kept its medieval character: narrow corridors, stone staircases, secret passages, dungeons... The visit gives an idea of life in the Middle Ages, still plagued by wars. The panorama observable from the castle or its surroundings is impressive.

Falconry. There is also an exhibition on hunting with birds of prey in free flight. Interactive shows with the public and the birds of prey.