Keep of Limont

Keep of Limont in province of Liege in Belgium (area of Waremme).

In 1220, the ground of Limont taken on the vast domain of Warfusée-Donmartin was allotted by Libert de Jeneffe, Chevalier of the area of Waremme, with its second Robert wire born in 1230. This last was mortally wounded in full war of Awans and Waroux at the time of the defense of the castle of Waremme on September 18th, 1276. a well-known historian of the time, Jacques de Hemricour, reports that Robert de Limont chooses new armorial bearings (prist one early noveal blazon by ly), and that it materialized his title on the seigniory of Limont by building this keep which crossed the ages until our days. '

This noble strengthened residence thus set up in the middle of the 13th century, is the testimony of the true birth of the Commune of Limont to the Moyen-âge. The building is classified like Historic building by royal decree since 1977.

It is distinguished from the Donjon S of the same time by the beauty and the exceptional regularity of the equipment of the blocks of flints which face the frontages. The angles of frontage are reinforced by imposing stone limestones chainings. Built on a square level of 8,50m. on side, the high building at the origin of probably four stages, has two more whole levels and the bases of the third.

One will note the beautiful clavé framing of the main door which, for requirements of defense, was located on the 1st floor. One was to climb there by a staircase out of wooden which was withdrawn in the event of threat or from seat.

Inside, the first level sheltered equipped with a hearth majestic and the two bay living room with coussièges. The ceiling consisted of two arcs cross S in full-clotheshanger. A trap door in the floor gave access to a cellar to reserves closed by a thick vault in Tuffeau X. A stone staircase arranged in the thickness of the northern wall led on the private floors. The flat roof was in the beginning bordered of Créneau X.

Following a first preliminary excavation campaign instrumented by the Walloon region in 2005, we can imagine that this keep was the showpiece of a whole of constructions and appendices surrounded by a ditch strengthened by a wall vis-a-vis the current street of the Church. Centuries of installations gradually erased the lines of passed and transformed this environment of which there remains nothing any more but the blurred image than we let us know today.

A project of restoration is being studied, and the whole site will be revalorized soon. The vestiges of an additional construction, the enclosing ditch and wall, currently buried will be updated in the installation of the accesses.

Since November 2006, a provisional structure made up of four metal columns supports a roof of pyramidal protection.