BOUILLON CASTLE, BELGIUM

BOUILLON CASTLE IS LOCATED ON THE FRENCH BORDER IN BELGIUM.  IT WAS FIRST MENTIONED IN 988 BUT THERE HAS BEEN A CASTLE OR FORTRESS AT THIS SITE FOR MUCH LONGER.  IT OVERLOOKS THE RIVER SEMOIS.   IT WAS ONCE OWNED BY THE NOTORIOUS DUKE GODFREY OF BOUILLON.   HE SOLD THE CASTLE TO FUND CRUSADES INTO JERUSALEM IN 1099.

TODAY THEY ALLOW YOU TO TOUR THE ENTIRE CASTLE FOLLOWING A NUMERIC PATH.   TWICE A DAY ON THE WEEKENDS THEY HAVE A FALCONRY SHOW.   UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT AT THE FORTRESS AT THE RIGHT TIME TO SEE THE SHOW.  BUT IT WAS A FASCINATING CASTLE-FORTRESS.

BOUILLON, BELGIUM

TORTURE CHAMBER

HARD TO TELL BUT THIS IS A STEEP RAMP TO WALK DOWN BELOW THE CASTLE. 

DUCK!!