View source for Castle of Freÿr

{{Short description|15th-century castle in Wallonia, Belgium}}
{{Infobox castle
|name= Castle of Freÿr
|partof=
|location= [[Wallonia]], Belgium
|coordinates=
|image= File:Freÿr Castle R01.jpg
|caption= The castle of Freÿr seen from the Meuse
|image2= File:Castle of Freÿr - Waulsort and its gardens (XVII-XVIIIth centuries).jpg
|image_size= 250px
|caption2= Castle and Gardens of Freÿr seen from the Rocks
|type= Hunting Lodge
|code=
|built= 15th century
|builder= Guillaume de Beaufort-Spontin
|materials=
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|used= 
|demolished= 
|condition=
|ownership=
|open_to_public= 
|controlledby=
|garrison=
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}}

The '''Castle of Freÿr''' ({{langx|fr|link=no|Château de Freÿr}}，{{IPA|fr|ʃato də fʁɛjʁ|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-T. Le Berre-Freÿr.wav}}) with its gardens in the style of [[Le Nôtre]] is located in [[Wallonia]] on the left bank of the [[Meuse (river)|Meuse]], between [[Waulsort]] and [[Dinant]] ([[province of Namur]], Belgium). They form one of the most magnificent natural sites in [[Belgium]]. It has been classified as one of Wallonia's major heritage sites. It is often called a greatly reduced [[Versailles]]. Originally a [[Renaissance]] castle, it was extended in the 18th century and was once the residence of dukes and their royal guests. It has gardens including orange trees. The more than three-hundred-year-old [[orangeries]] are the oldest in the [[Low Countries]].

==The castle==
Dating back to the [[Middle Ages]], Freÿr was a [[keep]] given in [[fief]] by the [[Count]] of [[Namur (province)|Namur]] to Jean de Rochefort Orjol in 1378. His granddaughter Marie married Jacques de Beaufort in 1410. Their descendants have kept the estate until the present.

==Outside==
The keep was destroyed in 1554 by the French during the wars against Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]]. The oldest part of the current castle, the east wing, was built in 1571 and is one of the first examples of the "[[Renaissance]] Mosane" style.

During the 17th century the house was enlarged by the addition of three wings, forming a square with the original wing.

Around 1760 the south wing was pulled down and replaced by a [[wrought iron]] gate reminiscent of [[Jean Lamour]]'s masterpiece in [[Nancy, France|Nancy]], closing the inner yard to give the castle its current appearance.

==Inside==
[[File:PM 156318 B Freyr.jpg|thumb|Children's coach (18th century)]]
The castle is representative of the interior of a [[nobility|nobleman's]] summer residence of the 18th century. It features many original elements such as the impressive main hall with wall paintings by [[Frans Snyders]] and a ceiling covered by Louis XV [[fresco]]es, or the chapel with its [[Regency architecture|Regency]] wooden [[panelling]] and its [[Baroque]] [[altar]].

The rooms contain the ancient furniture of the Dukes of [[Beaufort-Spontin]] as well as traces of history left by royal guests ([[Louis XIV of France]], Archduchess Maria-Christina, fifth child (and third to reach adult age) of Empress [[Maria Theresa of Austria]], King [[Stanisław Leszczyński|Stanislas I]]), and the living memory of 20 generations, among which is a delightful children's [[Coach (vehicle)|coach]] (18th century) that won the first prize at Paris [[Exposition Universelle (1889)|World Exhibition]] (1889).

At Freÿr the [[Coffee Treaty]] or [[Treaty of Freÿr]] (1675) between France and Spain was signed, and the Treaty of the Borders between France and the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]] (1772) was negotiated. In the room where the treaty was signed, first time in Belgium was served coffee. At this time Louis XIV stayed here as the guest of Jeanne [[d'Harscamp]], Dowager Duchess of [[Beaufort-Spontin]].

[[File:Freyr R01.jpg|thumb|left|Site of the château and its gardens on the fertile river bottomland in front of the Rochers de Freyr with at the bottom the lionhead shaped rock]]

==The gardens==
[[File:Belgium-Freyr-Castle-Orangerie.JPG|thumb|200px|Orange garden]]
[[File:Belgium-Freyr-Castle-Fertilitygoddess.JPG|thumb|200px|This terracotta fertility goddess reminds of [[Freya]], twin-sister of [[Freyr]].]]
Designed in the style of [[André Le Nôtre]] in 1760 by [[Canon (priest)|Canon]] Guillaume de Beaufort-Spontin and enlarged by his brother Philippe in 1770, the gardens are set on walled [[Terrace (gardening)|terraces]] on the left bank of the Meuse. They offer views towards the woods to the north and towards the Meuse to the east, and their peace and serenity contrast with the naked rockface on the far bank.

Ponds and fountains babble on the lower level where [[orange trees]] spread their delicate perfume. Most of them are 350 years old. 
The trees came to Freÿr in the first part of the 18th century from [[Lunéville]], the residence of the Duke of [[Lorraine (province)|Lorraine]]. They are the oldest trees in cases in Europe ([[Icomos]] Conference Orangerien in Europa – Von fürstlichem Vermögen und gärtnerischer Kunst, Bamberg 2005). The wooden cases are still built according to the original design. The oldest [[orangery]] of the [[Low Countries]] (early 18th century) combines elegance and simplicity.

The upper level is covered by [[hedge (barrier)|hedge]] [[maze]]s (6&nbsp;km) that unveil their mysteries one by one: a set of patterns inspired by [[card game]] figures, a theme also present in the [[terra cotta]] statues made by [[Cyfflé]].

At the very top of the gardens, the [[Rococo]] [[pavilion]] commands the view on the Meuse and seduces by its delicate [[stucco]] decoration, based on the theme of fertility with [[cornucopia]] and [[Triton (mythology)|Tritons]].

The right bank of the Meuse is dominated by [[Rocks at Freyr]] more than 100&nbsp;m high, 340 million years old), from which one has an exceptional view of the estate.

== Cooperation ==
* {{flagicon|GER}} '''[[Marksburg]]''', Germany
* {{flagicon|CH}} '''[[Oron Castle]]''', Switzerland
* {{flagicon|ITA}} '''[[Villa Rotonda]]''', Italy
* {{flagicon|BEL}} '''[[Modave Castle]]''', [[Belgium]]
* {{flagicon|NED}} '''[[Ammersoyen Castle]]''', [[Netherlands]]
* {{flagicon|FRA}} '''[[Château de la Roche Courbon]]''', France
* {{flagicon|Austria}} '''[[Eggenberg Palace]]''', [[Austria]]
* {{flagicon|POL}} '''[[Nowy Wiśnicz Castle]]''', [[Poland]]
* {{flagicon|LUX}} '''[[Vianden Castle]]''', [[Luxemburg]]

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Belgium-Freyr-Castle-façade.jpg|Façade of the castle
File:Freÿr_Castle_R02.jpg|The Gardens, seen from the other side of the [[Meuse]]
File:Belgium-Freyr-Castle-Fountain.JPG|Fountain in the garden
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Freyr]] for the Nordic fertility god
* [[Freya]] the twin-sister of Frey(r)s
* [[List of castles in Belgium]]
* [[List of protected heritage sites in Hastière]]

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.freyr.be/ Castle and Gardens of Freÿr on the Meuse]

{{Coord|50.2260|N|4.8890|E|type:landmark|display=title}}{{Castles in Belgium}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Castle Of Freyr}}
[[Category:Wallonia's Major Heritage]]
[[Category:Castles in Belgium|Freyr]]
[[Category:Castles in Namur (province)|Freyr]]
[[Category:Museums in Namur (province)]]
[[Category:Gardens in Wallonia]]
[[Category:Historic house museums in Belgium]]