Citadel of Huy

Huy, Belgium, Belgium

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The Citadel of Huy is a historic fortress perched on a rocky hill above the town of Huy in Belgium’s Liège province, overlooking the Meuse River and the surrounding valley.

Its origins as a fortified site go back to the 9th century, but the current stone structure was built between 1818 and 1823 under Dutch rule as a defensive stronghold against possible French attacks. Over time it served repeatedly as a prison for political opponents, including 19th‑century Belgian revolutionaries and, during World War II, thousands of Belgian political prisoners many of whom were later deported to German concentration camps.

Today the citadel functions partly as a museum and memorial to its wartime history, with preserved cells, interrogation rooms, and exhibits on the Nazi occupation, while also offering visitors panoramic views over Huy and the Meuse landscape.