A tumultuous history
Limbourg is situated on the top of a stony promontory that dominates a bend of the river ‘Vesdre’; it was formerly surrounded by fortifications. The geographical situation of the capital of the duchy of Limbourg was unfortunately too strategic to allow its inhabitants to live quietly. In 1101, Limbourg was Germanic, until it fell into the hands of the Duke of Brabant in 1268; it then became ‘Burgundian’ in 1404, after which it passed into the possession of the Spanish King Charles Quint. It became Dutch in 1648 and then Spanish again with the Treaty of Munster. The French occupied the town in 1675 and three years later, the ‘Sun King’ destroyed the castle and its fortifications before giving it back to the Spanish (Treaty of Nijmegen). French again between 1701 and 1703, Limbourg was assaulted by the English, Austrian and Netherlands armies commanded by Marlborough. Limbourg became Austrian with the Treaty of Utrecht in 1715 before being finally incorporated by the Ourthe department at the end of the French Revolution. At that point, it lost any administrative and judicial autonomy. Finally, in 1834, a fire destroyed many of the old residences.

Saint George Square
A kind of stone table stands in front of the school. In the 18th century, there was a high stone cross on the top of it. Nearby, the big quadrangular pump reminds us of the importance of water supply in case of siege. Its very deep well was dug around the year 1510.

The Limburg ‘perron’ and the ‘espine’ tree (justice tree) stood next to it.

The houses that border the square were built in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Old residences that once belonged to former high court magistrates of the Duchy stand wall to wall with working-class cottages. Some of these houses have kept their elegant interiors: ceilings with stucco decorations, carved woodwork and fireplaces made of pink marble from Baelen.

Houses n°43 and n°45 were once the place of the old inn ‘Croix d’Or’. The count of Medici stayed there in 1669 as well as the Austrian Emperor Joseph II in 1781. The third floor was added in the 19th century.

The front of house n°33 is made of chalky marble brick and stone and in the Louis XVI style, as is the beautiful entrance of n°36. The wrought iron bars of the balcony and windows are also worth noting.

The door lintel of n°22 enshrines a crown dating from 1687. The front of n°26, which used to be an inn, is decorated with a small niche recess.

L’Arvô
The former city hall (n°30) is remarkable for its beautiful interior decoration that forms a perfect frame for the different exhibitions that one can visit from May to October. A splendid model shows the state of the fortified city in 1632.

This edifice, built between 1681 and 1687, was used for the meetings of different personalities of the duchy; it was also the seat of the high court and the feudal house until 1703. To get to it, we have to pass through the Arvô (covered walkway). On the arch, incised stone heraldry represents the Cross of Burgundy; the year of edification 1681 is curved on its upper part. The windows of the upper floors have kept their lintels with decorative soffits. The armorial bearings of the town can be seen on the crest of the façade.

The oldest town seal is reproduced on a big stone situated in the basement. It is the only evidence of the ancient town hall (1446), which once stood right in the middle of the square.

The fountain of the Blessed Virgin
The fountain was erected after the French assault of 1675. It is still fed by the old well of the original town hall. The inhabitants placed a cast-iron statue on it in 1875 to mark their gratitude for having survived an outbreak of cholera, which caused the death of many inhabitants of the lower town nine years previously. The current statue (1960) is a work of Joseph Gerard from Polleur.

Discovering the old borough
The Poswick castle, also named the ‘Ardenne door’ castle, dominates the square. This is a rather recent building (1910), whose quite eclectic façades are made special by their numerous windows.

Take the little road that turns to the left and go to the church.

Saint Georges church
The majestic medieval sanctuary presents a unified gothic architecture. Still, its stained glass is quite recent and the little altars of the aisle date from the 18th century. In the middle of the ‘Notre-Dame de Rosaire’ altar, you can see a painting representing St-Anne and the Blessed Virgin. The tombstones and the tabernacle, in the shape of a theotheque, are two of its primary characteristics. In fact, the church is a real cemetery: at least 295 people lie buried there.

The Theotheque, raised at the entrance of the choir, has the form of a long stone belfry almost reaching the ceiling (1520); its sculptures conjure up the life of Jesus. Stairs descend to a crypt, which was once used as a munitions and archives storage depot. A 15th century gate, with a finely chiselled brass virgin on it, blocks the entrance. The confessionals are carved in the Louis XV style. At the end of the church, you can see a painting by Damery (17th century – Liège School).

Go on through the alley.

A Latin inscription on the lintel tells us that the provost’s house was situated in the garden behind the old door in the wall. You can see a tombstone and an old crucifix attached to the North gable of the last house on your left. It’s the only tombstone in Limbourg with a Dutch inscription on it. It actually represents the ultimate homage to Anne de Hack, deceased in 1635. The steps next to it lead to an old well that is surrounded by wire netting.

You are at the bottom of St Georges Square: the uneven pebble cobblestones come from the river Vesdre. The big lime tree on the bastion of the ‘Under door’ gate was planted in 1713 and must have witnessed many hangings.

At the time, condemned criminals spent their last night in a little prison that had been dug in the rock, just in front of the superb wrought iron gate of Andrimont castle, built in 1862 and destroyed by the Germans in 1914.

The medieval castle once stood on the grass in front of you.

The northern entrance of the fortified town is ‘protected’ by two square towers dating from the last century. These towers replaced the former ‘desoubtraine door’, which, in the 15th century, was made of two towers linked together by woodwork, and which was preceded by a weighbridge across a ditch.

According to a map of 1745, people had to pass through two other doors commanded by a bastion to get into the town.

You walk alongside the castle and go up to the higher part of the town.

You pass the old inn ‘Etoile d’Or’. Already mentioned in 1630, it is made of three different but adjoining constructions.

On your left, there is an ancient cross, surrounded by two lime trees called ‘Bragard Trees’. Here there used to be a weekly pig market.

You arrive at a Y-junction where, after a few meters, you take the path that leads towards the garages to reach the ramparts.

On the Ramparts
You can see a stele of the ‘Human Rights Trail’. Sitting on one of the benches under the chestnut trees, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the valley. The long railway viaduct made of 22 arches passes over the river ‘Vesdre’. On the skyline, you can see the first foothills announcing ‘Le Plateau de Herve’.

Pass along the balustrade of chestnut trees.

The stonewall hides ancient blockhouses, which are opened on certain occasions.

Turn left.

Go between houses n°118 and n°125. The one on your left is low and made of quarry stones (17th century); the one on your right is a big building remarkable for its façade of chalky bricks and stones (18th century).

You’re now back on the square.

Walk outside the gates (‘Hors les Portes’)
Leave the ‘St Georges Square’ by the ancient ‘Ardenne door’. This place was the most vulnerable of the fortified town. Pass the signpost ‘Hors les Portes’ and follow the wall to its end.

Take the very small path on your left between the door and the meadow. On your right, you can see the ancient ditch defence. Turn right at a T-junction, then walk 200m and then turn left at another T-junction. After 150m, you’ll see the castle, which is now a boarding school of the French Community. There are many different species of rare trees in this park.

Leave the castle and go to the ‘Petit Halloux’ farm, with its beautiful front made of pink chalk. This farm has been there since 1774. Follow the road and on your right you’ll see the chapel of St Anne. It is a small octagonal building that was rebuilt in 1774 and then restored in 1947.

Below, the ‘Grande Halloux’ mentioned in the census of 1646, consists of a central farmyard and its buildings.

If you wish to prolong your walk, go through the crossroads with the small oratory on the left. Take the old path to Verviers ; it leads to the ‘Comagnes’ farm, a vast fortified complex. The word ‘comagnes’ refers to former local lands where sheep used to graze. Further along the hill in front of you, you can see the dam wall of the Gileppe reservoir.

Fork right at the Y-junction and follow the asphalted road for 300m. Go straight on for 2km and you’ll soon be back at St Georges Square.