La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle, La Roche-en-Ardenne, France

La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle ruins lie on a rocky outcrop dominating the green valley which is nestled in a loop formed by the river Ourthe and the steep sides of the Deistermountain. The ruins, dating back to the 11th century, look gloomy but impressive, emphasized by the roughly piled slate walls.

From the 12th century on the castle took a strategic place in the development and defence of trade and it got to be a halting place in the trading route of English wool to Lombardia in present Italy.

The castle was conquered by the French in 1681 who rebuilt the castle so that it could withstand the new artillery.

La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle was inhabited until 1780 when it was abandoned. It quickly fell to ruin when in the 19th century it was stripped of all useful materials by the villagers of La Roche.

In 1903 during superficial excavations, inside the castle walls, pieces of polished flint, a whetstone and several shards of prehistoric pottery were discovered. Also, in 1954 a Roman coin minted in the 4th century was found. In 1995 more serious excavation works started. Proof was found that the castle site once housed a Celtic oppidum and a Roman fort.

References:

castles.nl

User Reviews

Aurelian Lehadus (19 months ago)
Very nice place to visit

Belinda Mekisich (22 months ago)
Beautiful castle. Was a little disappointed that there were no shows when we went, as shown on their website. But nevertheless still an amazing place to visit and you get to see the whole city from the " watchtower " in the castle so totally worthwhile.

Claire Lerp (22 months ago)
Beautiful building. Spectacular at night lighted up.

Tom D'Roza (2 years ago)
A good way to spend an hour or two (unlikely to take all day). The kids enjoyed the falconry demonstration. The parents enjoyed the bar in one of the castle rooms. Good voters of the surrounding area too.

Peter Dolezel (2 years ago)
Nice place for short visit. Interesting ruins of a small castle. Good panoramic views. Lot of restaurants. Swimming or Kayaking in the river. After 11am tricky parking. Today was there lot of motorcycles ☹️

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Makser

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Derbent is the southernmost city in Russia, occupying the narrow gateway between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains connecting the Eurasian steppes to the north and the Iranian Plateau to the south. Derbent claims to be the oldest city in Russia with historical documentation dating to the 8th century BCE. Due to its strategic location, over the course of history, the city changed ownership many times, particularly among the Persian, Arab, Mongol, Timurid, Shirvan and Iranian kingdoms.

Derbent has archaeological structures over 5,000 years old. As a result of this geographic peculiarity, the city developed between two walls, stretching from the mountains to the sea. These fortifications were continuously employed for a millennium and a half, longer than any other extant fortress in the world.

A traditionally and historically Iranian city, the first intensive settlement in the Derbent area dates from the 8th century BC. The site was intermittently controlled by the Persian monarchs, starting from the 6th century BC. Until the 4th century AD, it was part of Caucasian Albania which was a satrap of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. In the 5th century Derbent functioned as a border fortress and the seat of Sassanid Persians. Because of its strategic position on the northern branch of the Silk Route, the fortress was contested by the Khazars in the course of the Khazar-Arab Wars. In 654, Derbent was captured by the Arabs.

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In 2003, UNESCO included the old part of Derbent with traditional buildings in the World Heritage List.

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