32 Walloon castles to open their gates to public

Wednesday, 26 April 2023

By Grace Pankey

The castle of Enghien. Credit: Facebook / Journées du Patrimoine en Wallonie

On the 1st of May, families are invited to visit 32 castles in Wallonia for the third edition of "Family Castle Life" organised by the Secretariat of the European Heritage Days.

The program will offer guided tours, activities, educational games and treasure hunts for children in some of the Belgium's most historic buildings. The numerous activities provided will raise awareness of archaeological heritage.

The Youth and Heritage Days event was originally a school event but recently changed to a family event in 2019. Among the 32 castles include Château de Jehay, Château de la Fraineuse, Château de Franchimont, Château de Bonne Espérance and Château de Fallais.

The event is free of charge, but some of the locations require a reservation to be made in advance including Châteu de Fallais and Château de Freÿr. More information about the event and how to reserve a spot can be found in the brochure located on the organisation's website.

Château de Jehay

Château de Jehay is from the 16th century during the time of the Mosan Renaissance. It is famous for its checkerboard pattern on the walls and is surrounded by moats.

The 'Chateau de Jehay' castle in Amay, Monday 29 August 2016. Credit: Belga / Marc Gochel

 

The castle underwent renovations in the 19th century and adopted a Gothic Revival style. During the Second World War, the castle was used as a shelter for displaced children of the Belgian Railway workers. After the war, the castle began to fall into disrepair. Once Comte van de Steen bought the castle he began restoring the castle's furniture and interior.

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The castle grounds boast of beautiful Italian gardens sprinkled with copper sculptures for visitors to admire. There is also a garden and an old ice house that was build in the 19th century to store ice located on the grounds.

Château de la Fraineuse

The Château de la Fraineuse is located in Spa, Belgium. The castle was a creation of Charles Soubre, a Belgian artist. It is a neoclassical style and symmetrical with its porch and columns.

Credit: Facebook / Un Air de Chât

In the 19th and 20th century, Spa became a destination for the aristocrats and bourgeois to vacation in the summer. The castle was originally a part of the Nivezé estate which comprised of several villas that have since disappeared. During the First World War, the castle became residence for German Kaiser Wilhelm II and in 1920 hosted the diplomatic conference on the reparations owed by the Germans to Allies.

Château de Franchimont

The Château de Franchimont is located in Ardennes and used to be one of the 12 residences of the Liège bishop who defended the state from the 11th and 12th century.

Credit: Facebook / Château De Franchimont

Parts of the castle were destroyed during the French Revolution but the ruins remain visible today. Visitors are able to learn about the evolution of military architecture and weaponry. Several of the castle's features have been restored such as the dungeons, bread oven, guard room and pillboxes.

Château de Bonne Espérance

This château's name translates to "Castle of Good Hope". It was a residence from the 16th century and today has been transformed into a bed and breakfast. Nothing remains of the ancestor to the current building. The original limestone from the tower dates back to 1588.

Credit: Facebook / Castle of Good Hope

The ruins of the property belonged to the Templars in 1588. Today, the property includes a park planted with century-old trees, a pond and is located near a hiking trail.

Château de Fallais

The Château de Fallais was constructed around the year of 1150 by the Beaufort family. The castle is a gothic architecture and has continuously been restored since its construction. In the 15th century the castle belonged to Charles the Bold, the former Duke of Burgundy.

The Fallais castle in Braives, Sunday 26 July 2020. Credit: Belga / Bruno Fahy

Today, the castle offers guided tours families and school groups. There is a play area for children as well as a park to explore on the castle grounds.

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A “Holy Fear”

April 28, 2023 Friday of the Third Week of Easter Readings for Today Saint Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr—Optional Memorial Saint Louis Grignon de Montfort, Priest—Optional Memorial

Video “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.” John 6:53–55 On a philosophical level, it’s useful to consider various things that appear to be “competing forces.” Good appears to be the opposite of evil. Light the opposite of dark. Heat the opposite of cold. And life the opposite of death. But are they truly opposites in the sense of being competing forces? When considered carefully, it is clear that good and evil, light and dark, heat and cold, and life and death are not actually “competing forces;” rather, evil is simply the absence of good, darkness the absence of light, cold the absence of heat, and death the loss of life. And though this philosophical distinction may not seem that interesting to some, and confusing to others, it is a helpful truth to ponder in light of today’s Gospel. Today’s Gospel tells us that failure to “eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood” results in death. Death is the loss of life, and the Eucharist is the source of life. Jesus says that if you fail to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood, “you do not have life within you.” This bold teaching of Jesus should cause us to stop and examine our approach to the Most Holy Eucharist. Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that going to Mass and receiving Communion is something we do as a “favor” to our Lord. But in truth, it’s God’s most profound favor to us, because the Eucharist is the gateway to eternal life. And without it, we have no life within us. Our spirits die because we lose the presence of God. Looking at the negative effect of not receiving the Most Holy Eucharist can be very useful. Sometimes we need to consider the consequences of our actions as a way of motivating us to greater fidelity. For that reason, considering the fact that failure to eat the Flesh of the Son of God results in death should be very motivating. It should fill us with a holy fear of the loss of the life-giving presence of God within us. This “holy fear” is a true gift from God and is, in fact, one of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Reflect, today, upon your interior attitude toward the Most Holy Eucharist. Do you see your participation in the Holy Mass more as a favor you offer to our Lord? Or do you see it as it is: the life-giving source of eternal life? Reflect upon how important this precious gift truly is and recommit yourself to a faithful and devout participation in this most holy Gift. My Eucharistic Lord, Your Flesh and Blood are truly the source of eternal life for all who receive You in faith. I thank You, dear Lord, for this most precious Gift of the Most Holy Eucharist, and I pray that I will be filled with a deep hunger and thirst for You always. Jesus, I trust in You.