Fontaine-l'Évêque Castle

Fontaine-l'Évêque Castle is a Renaissance-era castle in the Belgian town of Fontaine-l'Évêque featuring two main buildings and seven towers. The structures are enclosed within a dry moat that rings the entire complex in the center of town.

The original castle was founded in the 13th century by Nicolas de Fontaine, Bishop of Cambrai. It was reconstructed in 1408 after a fire caused by regional conflicts, setting the stage for later Renaissance modifications.

The castle functions as the town's municipal hall and serves as a protected heritage site for the Wallonia region. Visitors can observe how the building's historical importance blends with its everyday role in local governance.

The castle is located on Rue du Château in the heart of Fontaine-l'Évêque and can be viewed and explored from the outside. Interior access to the buildings requires prior permission from the municipal administration.

The Bivort de la Saudée family commissioned architect Auguste Cador to undertake a major restoration in the early 1860s. This work transformed the castle's appearance and gave it many of the architectural details visitors see today.