Franchimont Castle

Theux, Belgium, Belgium

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Franchimont Castle (Château de Franchimont) is one of the largest and most important medieval fortresses of the former Prince-Bishopric of Liège, located on a rocky spur south of Theux in the province of Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, and now a publicly accessible ruin and archaeological site.

It was originally built in the 11th century as a stronghold of the bishops of Liège, forming one of twelve fortified residences that defended the eastern frontier of the principality, and was expanded several times during the Middle Ages, notably after a destructive fire in 1387, with further modifications in the 14th and 15th centuries.

In the early 16th century the castle was adapted to modern artillery warfare: a massive outer wall with artillery platforms, casemates and a new artillery tower in the northeast corner were added, making it a rare example of the transition from medieval to Renaissance defensive systems.

The fortress was severely damaged by Louis XIV’s troops in 1676, then further ruined and pillaged during the French Revolution and the Liège Revolution of 1795; in the early 19th century locals even used the stone as a quarry, leaving only a dramatic complex of walls, towers, underground passages, bread ovens, cellars and casemates.