Autelbas Castle, castle in Wallonia
Autelbas Castle is the ruins of a fortified residence in the village of Autelbas-Barnich near Arlon, built in the 14th century with walls and water defenses. Today only fragments of walls and towers remain visible from what was once a substantial stone structure.
The castle was rebuilt in 1432 after being destroyed by Burgundian forces and served the d'Autel family for generations. A major fire in 1983 destroyed much of the structure, leaving the fragile ruins visible today.
The name Autelbas comes from the d'Autel family, who lived here and held influence in the region for many generations. The ruins remain a quiet reminder of a place that was once central to community life in this part of Wallonia.
The ruins are too fragile to enter and can only be viewed from outside; visitors should keep distance from the crumbling walls. A nearby museum displays scale models of the original castle and artifacts from excavations to help understand the site.
Excavations at the site uncovered pottery fragments that reveal people were making goods here centuries before the castle was built. This discovery points to a deeper layer of history at the location extending back further than the castle itself.
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