Location: Belgium Wallonia Yvoir
Ruins of a medieval castle town on a rock above the Meuse at Houx – almost completely destroyed after a siege in 1430.
Interesting facts
- Poilvache had its own mint.
- The besieging army of 1430 is estimated at 30,000 men.
- From the rocks you can see where the German army crossed the Meuse on 13 May 1940.
Why visit
- Ruins of a medieval castle town
- Setting high above the Meuse
- History from the Burgundian era to 1940
The ruins of Poilvache lie on a cliff edge high above the Meuse, above the village of Houx in the municipality of Yvoir. A fortification is said to have stood here since the time of Charlemagne; the remains visible today date from the 15th century.
Poilvache was more than a castle: it was a small walled town with its own mint, allied to Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy. In 1430 Jean de Heynsbergh, Prince-Bishop of Liège, besieged it with an army estimated at 30,000 men from Liège, Dinant and Huy – after which Poilvache practically ceased to exist.
From the rocks you can see the island in the Meuse where the German army crossed the river on 13 May 1940. The whole site is listed as major heritage of Wallonia.
History
Fortification said to date back to Carolingian times, present ruins from the 15th century. Walled castle town with its own mint, allied to Philip the Good. Besieged in 1430 by Jean de Heynsbergh, Prince-Bishop of Liège, and largely destroyed afterwards.
Special features
Ruins of a castle and its small town on a rock above the Meuse. The site is listed as major heritage of Wallonia.
Map
Opens an external route planner. Please check access and opening times before you set off.
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