Spanish House of Bouvignes

Museums and culture

Renaissance house of 1568–1578 in Bouvignes-sur-Meuse, built after the destruction of 1554 – today a museum of the medieval heritage of the Meuse region.

Interesting facts

The house was built in place of the Counts' castle destroyed in 1554.
It stands on the cellars of at least two medieval houses.
Since 2008 it has been a museum of the medieval heritage of the Meuse region.

Why visit

Renaissance architecture in Bouvignes
Museum of the medieval heritage of the Meuse region
Easy to combine with Crèvecœur Castle

The Spanish House (Maison espagnole) stands on the Place du Baillage in Bouvignes-sur-Meuse, part of Dinant on the left bank of the Meuse. The ironmaster Gobert Maistrecocq had it built between 1568 and 1578 to replace the Counts’ castle, which had been destroyed in 1554 when the troops of Henry II sacked the town. The house stands on the cellars of at least two medieval houses.

The building shows the Dutch Renaissance style with a still Gothic outline; around 1620 three Renaissance gables with Baroque-like volutes were added. A century later the house was badly decayed. In 1888 the municipality bought it for use as a town hall and boys’ school, and after war damage in the early 20th century it was repaired several times.

It has been a listed monument since 1948. After a restoration from 2002 to 2007 it has housed the Maison du patrimoine médiéval mosan, a museum of the medieval heritage of the Meuse region, since 2008.

History

Built 1568–1578 by Gobert Maistrecocq in place of the Counts' castle destroyed in 1554, three Renaissance gables added around 1620, badly decayed around 1720, bought by the municipality in 1888 (town hall, boys' school), listed in 1948, restored 2002–2007, museum since 2008.

Special features

Dutch Renaissance residence with a Gothic outline and three volute gables, built over medieval cellars.

Map

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Nearby

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