Château de Bouillon | Thousand-Year-Old Fortress

The Château de Bouillon is built on three rocky outcrops overlooking a loop of the Semois River. This dominant position gave it a significant strategic advantage, controlling the historic route between Reims, Liège, and Aachen.

The fortified complex stretches 340 meters in length, forming an impressive defensive structure that once housed up to 200 soldiers. The fortress was considered “impregnable” thanks to its ingenious defense systems.

Godfrey of Bouillon (c. 1058–1100), Duke of Lower Lorraine, is best known for leading the First Crusade and becoming the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem—though he declined the title of king, preferring the more humble title of “Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre.”

Before departing for the Holy Land, Godfrey used the castle as collateral to finance his expedition, forever linking his name to the site. A chamber carved into the rock in the 13th century, now named after him, features a wax-figure scene depicting the Crusaders’ departure.

The castle museum houses an exceptional collection of medieval artifacts and traces the fortress’s history through the centuries.