Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

EASTERN WALLONIA 233

Godefroid de

Bouillon

Drawbridges

The entrance to the castle was

protected by three drawbridges.

One was made into a stone

bridge in 1716. The inscription

over the arch is dedicated

to King Louis XIV.

. Hall of Godefroid de Bouillon
A large room beneath a massive arch of
bare stone, the hall evokes a world of
rugged military might. Slots in the floor
contain a large and mysterious wooden
cross that was discovered in 1962.

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

Esplanade Godefroi de Bouillon,

Bouillon. Road Map D4. @

Tel (061) 466257. # Jul–Aug:

10am–6:30pm daily; Apr–Jun

and Sep: 10am–6pm Mon–Fri,

10am–6:30pm Sat and Sun; Mar

and Nov: 10am–5pm daily; Jan–

Feb and Dec: 1–5pm Mon–Fri,

10am–5pm Sat and Sun. & 0

Falconry Show # Mar–mid

Nov: 11:30am, 2pm and 3:30pm

daily. http://www.bouillon-initiative.be

The Entrance

There is only one point of access to this

fortress – through a narrow arch in the

outer castle, flanked by guardrooms. This

is now the site of the ticket office, shop

and visitors’ information office.

GODEFROID DE BOUILLON

Bouillon castle was once owned by the celebrated

crusader knight Godefroid (1060–1100), Duke of

Lower Lorraine. In 1095, Peter the Hermit,

a French preacher, whipped the local

populace into a ferment over Muslim

occupation of the Holy Land. Godefroid

took up the cause and joined the First

Crusade, selling his castle to the prince-

bishop of Liège to obtain money for the

expedition. In 1099, his troops were the

first to enter Jerusalem and Godefroid

was offered the crown of the Kingdom

of Jerusalem. He refused to accept it on

religious grounds, preferring instead to be

called Defender of the Holy Sepulchre.

He died in Jerusalem a year later.

A portcullis could

be lowered to block

the passage beyond.