Chateau de Veves

Veves stands on a limestone crag above a wooded valley near Celles, rebuilt in the fifteenth century after an earlier castle on the site was destroyed, and it is the picture-book Ardennes castle: an irregular plan following the rock, six round towers of varying size with pointed slate roofs, and thick curtain walls. Inside, the courtyard is unexpected, with two storeys of open timber galleries on wooden posts in a form closer to a farm than a fortress, added in the eighteenth century when the family made it comfortable. The interior holds furniture, tapestries and family collections, shown as rooms. It has belonged to the same family for a very long time and remains privately owned, with the visit run accordingly.

History

Tradition holds that castles have stood on the site since the time of Pippin of Herstal in the 7th century, and in the later Middle Ages the Beaufort family built a stronghold here around 1230. The present castle, an irregular pentagon flanked by six round towers, dates largely from around 1410, and later restorations gave the inner courtyard a two-storey half-timbered gallery and a red brick front in the Louis XV style (Wikipedia, Château de Vêves).

Highlights

• Six round towers on a crag - the silhouette above the valley.
• Timber courtyard galleries - two storeys of open wooden balconies inside.
• Furnished family rooms - tapestries and collections in the interior.
• The rock-following plan - the irregular shape dictated by the crag.

When to go

April to October; it closes for much of the winter and hours are limited at the edges of the season. Two hours. Weekends are busier. Check opening before travelling.

What to expect

Opening is seasonal and hours are narrow. It is privately owned and parts are closed. Interpretation is in French with limited English. The approach road is narrow and parking is limited. Costumed events dominate some weekends.

Nearby

Celles is a short walk; Furfooz park lies west and Dinant north-west.

Key facts