Château de Harzé

The origins of Château de Harzé date back to the early 14th century, when the de Clermont family erected a fortified structure here. Margarete von der Marck married Jean de Ligne in 1547. The castle acquired its current appearance in the 17th century, after Count Ernest van Suys married Ernestine van Linden in 1631 and initiated reconstruction, including the design of the castle courtyard with round towers, two massive examples of which remain today. Later, the property was owned by the von Eynatten and de Rahier families. During World War II, from October 29, 1944, the castle served as the headquarters for the XVIII US Airborne Corps under Major General Matthew B. Ridgway during the Battle of the Bulge. A plaque at the entrance commemorates a meeting between General Eisenhower and Ridgway on December 28, 1944. Since 1965, Château de Harzé has been a protected monument.