Larochette Castle

History

The ruins of Larochette Castle tower above the village from a sandstone rock spur about 50 metres high, known as the “Elsebeth” plateau. Their advanced state of ruin is largely due to a fire that devastated the castle around 1565.

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The first traces of occupation on this site go back to the 8ᵗʰ century, when a refuge was built on the rock. The first stone castle was constructed in the 12ᵗʰ century. At that time it was surrounded by a fortified enceinte, only accessible through a large outer bailey, itself protected by an earthen rampart dating from the first half of the 11ᵗʰ century.

The name “la Rochete” appears in 1241, when an Arnould, lord of the place, is mentioned as a witness in a charter issued by Henry, count of Luxembourg.

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The seigniorial family of Larochette descended from a very old noble family from Ouren, south of Saint-Vith in present-day Belgium. As early as 1176, an “Arnoldus de Rupe” is cited as a witness in a donation charter under Count Henry I. Over the following centuries, the lords of Larochette continued to play an important role in the regional nobility, especially at the time when the duke of Luxembourg became king of Bohemia and later emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

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In the 14ᵗʰ century, Arnould IV de Fels, one of the lords of Larochette, was appointed “justicier des nobles” (chief justice for the nobility) and held the office of seneschal under John the Blind. As a reward for his services, John the Blind granted him in 1343 a privilege limiting the number of looms that the cloth-makers of Larochette were allowed to use. This detail illustrates the historical importance of textile production for the local economy up to the 20ᵗʰ century.

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After 1348, the castle estate was gradually divided among several heirs. During the following century, at least five manor houses were built within the castle walls. Two of them are still known by name today: the House of Homburg and the House of Créhange. Repeated divisions of inheritance in the 15ᵗʰ and 16ᵗʰ centuries (Fels-Ouren, Fels-Trier, Fels-Heffingen and Fels-Heffingen-Contern) led to a highly fragmented ownership. The site ceased to be permanently inhabited, fell into disuse and gradually lost its military importance.

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In 1905, Grand Duke Adolphe of Nassau sold the site and its dependencies to the count of Fels, a descendant of the Fels-Heffingen-Contern line. In 1979, the Luxembourg State signed an emphyteutic lease with the then count of Fels. Finally, in June 2020, the State acquired Larochette Castle in order to restore, secure and enhance it for visitors. Today, the site belongs to the State and is managed by the Centre des Monuments du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg.