Freÿr
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The castle and gardens of Freÿr on the River Meuse are located in one of the most magnificent natural sites in Belgium.
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[edit] The castle
Dating back to the Middle Ages, Freÿr was a keep given in fiefdom by the Count of Namur to Jean de Rochefort Orjol in 1378. His grand-daughter Marie married with Jacques de Beaufort in 1410. Their descendants kept the estate until the present.
[edit] Outside
The keep was destroyed in 1554 by the French during the wars against 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, closing the inner yard to give the castle its current appearance.
[edit] Inside
The castle is representative of the interior of a nobleman's summer residence of the 18th century. It features many original elements such as the impressive main hall with wall paintings by Franz Snyders and ceiling covered by Louis XV frescoes, or the chapel with its 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, Archduchess Maria-Christina, eldest child of Empress Maria-Theresa of Austria, King Stanislas I), and the living memory of 20 generations, among which is a delightful children's coach (18th century) that won the first prize at Paris World Exhibition (1889).
At Freÿr the Coffee Treaty (1675) between France and Spain was signed, and the Treaty of the Borders between France and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (1772) was negotiated.
[edit] The gardens
Designed in the style of André Le Nôtre in 1760 by Canon Guillaume de Beaufort-Spontin and enlarged by his brother Philippe in 1770, the gardens are set on walled 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 inspire peace and serenity.
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. They are the oldest trees in case 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 mazes (6 km) that unveil their mysteries one by one: a set of patterns inspired by card game figures, a theme also present in the terracotta 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.
The right bank of the Meuse is dominated by cliffs (more than 100 m high, 340 Millions of years old), from which one has an exceptional view of the estate.
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