La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle

La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle, locally known as Château Feodal de La Roche-en-Ardenne, lies above the village of the same name, in the province of Luxembourg in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

The ruins of this medieval castle sit on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lush valley, which is nestled within a loop formed by the Ourthe River and the steep slopes of Deister Mountain. Dating back to the 11th century, the ruins appear gloomy yet impressive, highlighted by the roughly piled slate walls.

From the 12th century onward, the castle played a strategic role in the development and defense of trade, becoming a stopping point on the trade route that transported English wool to Lombardy in present-day Italy.

The castle was conquered by the French in 1681, who then rebuilt it to withstand modern artillery.

La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle was inhabited until 1780, after which it was abandoned. It rapidly fell into ruin when, in the 19th century, the villagers of La Roche stripped it of all usable materials.

During superficial excavations in 1903, inside the castle walls, fragments of polished flint, a whetstone, and several shards of prehistoric pottery were found. Additionally, in 1954, a Roman coin minted in the 4th century was discovered. More extensive excavations in 1995 revealed proof that the castle site once housed a Celtic oppidum and a Roman fort.

Today, this is an attractive, ruined castle in a charming tourist village. In summer, it hosts demonstrations with various birds of prey and, after dark, features a delightful show with music and colored lights. It remains equally captivating in winter, when bad weather and mist lend the castle an ominous atmosphere.

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