Jemeppe Castle

En un regard

Le château en bref

Jemeppe Castle, at Hargimont (Marche-en-Famenne), is a lowland castle surrounded by moats, built around a powerful quadrangular keep of limestone measuring 15 m by 11 m, which rises over five storeys to 23 m beneath the cornice. The Walloon heritage inventory dates it to the early 14th century on the basis of a dendrochronological study, whereas other surveys mention a fortified house as early as the 13th century; the first known lord of the site, Jean Dochain (or d'Ochain), is cited in 1280. A brick castle on a limestone base, flanked by circular corner towers pierced with gun loops, was added to it from the 16th century, before being remodelled in the mid-18th century (1748) and then in the 19th century, when the keep received most of its present facing, crowning and roof. The listed ensemble is surrounded by broad restored moats, a park and a castle farm to the west. Bought in 1997 by Thys Blom, who undertook a complete restoration, the castle now hosts seminars and private and professional events.