Belgium · 14th century
Reinhardstein Castle ranks #3,679 of 9,040 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #42 of the 128 mapped in Belgium. Founded 1354, it is older than 54% of the atlas's dated landmarks, one of 758 atlas entries founded in the 14th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 2,201 times in the last 60 days, more than 72% of the atlas. 2 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Aachen, 36 km away. See how Belgium compares in the castle statistics.
Reinhardstein Castle (Walloon: Tchestea di Rénastène; French: Château de Reinhardstein; German: Burg Reinhardstein) is a castle of Wallonia in the village of Ovifat, in the Warche valley of Liège Province, Belgium.
The stronghold was built in 1354 for Wenceslaus of Luxembourg, while still Count, by his vassal Reinhard of Weismes. It sits on a rocky outcrop in the river valley and is now surrounded by forest. By inheritance and marriage, it passed successively into the hands of the Nesselrode, Nassau, Schwartzenberg families and finally from 1550 to 1812 the property of the Counts of Metternich, except between 1795 and 1798 when the French revolutionary administration confiscated it. Franz Georg Karl Count of Metternich-Winnenburg-Beilstein sold the family estate in 1812 to a building materials dealer. From 1815 to 1919 the area belonged to Prussia.
The Prussian administration immediately halted the demolition and attempted for the first time to protect the monument. After the Treaty of Versailles (1919) it became Belgian territory. In the 19th century it was nearly destroyed by quarrying but in 1969 the castle was thoroughly renovated under the impulse of the new owner Professor Jean Overloop. After the reconstruction, he continued to live there until his death in 1994. His wife and daughter, who inherited the castle after his death, donated it to a non-profit organization.
The castle is inhabited but accessible to tourists. There is also a picturesque walking route along the castle.
Text adapted from “Reinhardstein Castle” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
View on the interactive castle map →