Bouillon, Belgium

Bouillon is a city that is situated in the province of Luxembourg, in the western section of Belgium. It is located very near the French border and is surrounded by Ardennes.  The city is filled with incredible castle structures and many historical sites to see. 


Brief history of the city ~ The city of Bouillon is the location where Godfrey of Bouillon first left for the Crusades in 1095.  Godfrey was the fifth and the last on the line of The Dukes of the House of Ardenne and owned the castle until 1096. He sold all of his Duchy to Otbert, prince-bishop of Liege to enable him to finance the First Crusade. Godfrey conquered Jerusalem and died there in 1100 with the title "Defender of the Holy Sepulchre," and the castle was not bought back and remained to Liege for nearly six centuries. Further, the city of Bouillon was, at one time, under the rulership of the French-specifically King Louis XIV in 1676.  After Waterloo, the second treaty of Paris (1815) granted the ancient sovereign land of Bouillon to the Netherlands. In 1830, after the Belgian Revolution, the Dutchy was integrated into Belgium.


Our first stop ~ Chateau de Bouillon or the medieval Castle of Bouillon.  (Patrick and I didn't go to Archeoscope anymore (although it is always recommended for travelers who has no idea about the city) where there are exhibits and show explaining the history of the city and the First Crusade ~ because hubby patiently explained to me weeks before the trip the vast rich history of Bouillon, and Godfrey and the First Crusade (Patrick has books in the house).. Anyway, the Chateau Fort was established in the late 900′s and was formerly owned by Godfrey of Bouillon. The Chateau Fort houses long, vast corridors, and dark dungeons for tourist exploration and the medieval charm of the Fort is truly amazing and unforgettable. I find the Chateau Fort incredibly interesting and walking through its stoned structures, seeing the walls and the fortifications, the ramparts, the vast rooms, and the dungeons always makes me feel at awe at how marvelous medieval architectures are and how they're able to preserve it for us to experience it up to now.  A guidebook is given and just follow the number guide and you'll easily understand what you are looking at with the explanations in the book.  The Chateau is accessible from 10 am to 6:00 pm and the cost of admission is 6.50 Euro for adults (and 4.50 Euro for children).


We're also able to watch the annual Falconry Demonstration (offered between the months of March and November) called the Ballet de Rapaces as part of the Castle of Bouillon visit. The show lasted for about 1/2 hour, just a short time for us to see the beautiful falcons and their abilities.  At the end of the tour, there's a "Scriptura" exhibition, which is in the old tag-covered dockyard which shows how learning how to write has evolved from the Middle Ages to the present day.


Outside the castle, we visited the church of Bouillon.  Patrick and I (on silent agreement) always make sure that we visit the town's church every time we visit a new city.  Also in the city, we saw the old town's cinema, the Hotel de Ville (town hall), and went inside the Ducal Museum (which is just beside the town hall). The Ducal Museum is housing exhibits pertaining to the First Crusade to the present and and guests can take in the breath-taking sixteenth and seventeenth century architecture that the museum is famous for. 


Ultimately, Bouillon is a source of historical exploration that Patrick and I (though exhausted for the day) have truly enjoyed. :D