Castle of Modave

Château de Modave or Château des Comtes de Marchin (E: Castle of the Counts of Marchin)

History

The Château is situated near the village of Modave in the province of Liège Belgium. The oldest part of the building, the so called donjon, was built on a strategic rock high above the valley of the river Hoyoux. The oldest parts still visible today date probably back to the 13th-century and were erected by the Lords of Modave. In the 16th-century the chateau and the land of Modave became property of the Haultepenne and de Saint-Fontaine families. In the next century the Comte of the nearby Marchin became the new owner. It was Jean-Gaspard-Ferdinand de Marchin (1601-1673), a great military commander, who turned the medieval fortress in a luxury baroque residence. His son Ferdinand de Marsin neglected the castle and lived in France. Later it came into the possession of successively:

* Maximilian Henry of Bavaria, elector of Cologne and Prince-Bishop of Liège, (1682 - 1684)
* Cardinal William Egon of Furstenberg, and his heirs (1684 - 1706)
* Baron Arnold de Ville (1706 - 1772)
* Anne-Léon, Duke of Montmorency, and his heirs (1772 - 1817)

In the 19th-century it was owned by the non-noble families Lamarche, Braconier and Van Hoegaerden. Finally, the "Compagnie Intercommunale Bruxelloise des Eaux", bought the property in March 1941, in order to protect the important water catchments in the park. They still own it today and have been restoring the castle with great care. It is open for visitors from April until October and it is also used as a prestigious venue for concerts and receptions.

Architecture

The ancient fortified castle was rebuild (1659-67) with a remarkable affinity to the most modern ideas of European country house building of the time. It is particularly close to the examples of François Mansart. The dignified symmetry with a triangular pediment accenting the main frontage, the geometrical articulation of the wall, the mansard roofs, and the spatial contrast between the corps de logis and the side wings have much in common with Mansart's country houses, such as Château de Maisons-Laffitte. The Chateau of Modave is the most prominent preserved example of high-baroque country-house architecture in the Southern Netherlands and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. The castle is unique for its splendidly preserved historic interiors and furniture dating from the 17th- and 18th centuries.The stucco ceilings date from the second half of the 17th century and were created by Jan-Christian Hansche.

External links

* [http://www.modave-castle.be/Anglais/Intro.html Official site]