Château de Franchimont
Ruined fortress of the prince-bishops of Liège in Theux, with a small museum, an audio guide and an archaeological site restored by the Compagnons de Franchimont.
Få kun enkelte afsnit læst op
Om museet
Franchimont Castle in Theux was one of the twelve residences and strongholds of the Principality of Liège. It is first mentioned in 1155, but its first buildings probably date from the bishops Henry of Verdun and Otbert, at the end of the 11th century. Hemmed in between the duchies of Limburg and Luxembourg and the Principality of Stavelot, the Franchimont country had its own defensive system and its own administrative and judicial centre, where the prince's representative resided.
The present ruins are divided into three concentric enclosures that illustrate the evolution of fortifications from the Middle Ages to the early modern period. The first enclosure is the castle proper, transformed mainly in the 16th century; the second retains in particular the eastern reinforcement of the keep (the “bouclier”, or shield, around 1387); the third, pentagonal, dates from the time of Érard de la Marck and shows military architecture adapted to artillery.
The site belongs to the municipality of Theux. Tourism management and voluntary restoration work have been carried out for more than fifty years by the association “Les Compagnons de Franchimont”. A small museum in the basement of the reception centre presents a film, models and objects from the excavations. In 2026 and until mid-2027, the castle is under renovation and remains partly accessible.
Højdepunkter
- Ruins of a fortress of the prince-bishops of Liège, mentioned as early as 1155
- Three enclosures illustrating the evolution of military architecture
- Keep reinforced by a “shield” more than 20 m high (around 1387)
- Small museum with a film, models and objects from the excavations
- Audio guide in French, Dutch, English and German
Permanent udstilling
- Musée du château de Franchimont – Small museum in the basement of the reception centre: a video montage on the castle's history, models of the fortress's evolution, everyday objects and bones from the excavations.
- Ejer
- Commune de Theux (gestion : Les Compagnons de Franchimont asbl)
Entrépriser & rabatter
| Voksne | 7 € |
|---|---|
| Nedsat pris | 4,50 €Seniors and students |
| Børn og unge | 3,50 €gratis til og med 3 år · Children aged 4 to 12; free for under 4s. |
| Pensionister | 4,50 € |
| Studerende og elever | 4,50 € |
| Grupper (fra 10 pers.) | 5 € pr. personAdult groups of 10 or more: €5; child groups of 10 or more: €3. |
| Audio guide | 2 € |
| Entry + guided tour (adult) | 9 €Children aged 4 to 12: €3.50; students and seniors: €6.50; booking required. |
Free entry for residents of the municipality of Theux.
Tilgængelighed
- Delvis kørestolsvenlig
- Elevator: ingen oplysninger
- Handicaptoilet
- Handicapparkering
- Servicehunde tilladt: ingen oplysninger
- Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
- Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger
The castle is partly accessible to people with reduced mobility; parking spaces near the entrance are reserved for them, and adapted toilets are available at the Brasserie de Franchimont. Animals are welcome on a lead.
Børn og familie
Velegnet til børn og familier
| Besøgets varighed | ca. 1,5 t. |
|---|---|
| Entré for børn | gratis til og med 3 år |
- Familieomvisninger & workshops
- Børnefødselsdage
According to the website, the castle suits children well; birthday parties at the castle and activities for schools on request.
Transport & parkering
Med offentlig transport
Franchimont (gare) / Saint-Roch (bus 388) · 500 m
Train: Aachen – Verviers – Spa line, Franchimont stop, then 500 m on foot up a steep slope. Bus: line 388, Saint-Roch stop, then 500 m on foot up a steep slope.
I bil
Parkering muligt
Large car park accessible to coaches; spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility near the entrance.
- Handicapparkering
Service & spisesteder
- Restaurant
- Museumsbutik
Brasserie de Franchimont nearby; castle shop.
Arrangementer & udlejning
Museet har ikke offentliggjort oplysninger om dette.
Planlæg dit besøg
| Rundvisninger | ja |
|---|---|
| Audioguide | ja (FR, NL, EN, DE) |
| Tilbud til skoler | ja |
| Godt at vide | The visit with the audio guide takes 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Guided tours and activities lasting 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours are available all year round by appointment (booking required on +32 87 53 04 89 or by email); tour dates must be requested. “L'aventure au château” activities for schools. |
