The best traffic-free bike rides around Villers-Le-Bouillet

The "Moulin du Vélupont" was a former possession of the Kornelimünster Abbey near Aachen from the 9th century until the Ancien Régime. During its long existence, the mill was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The current buildings are from the 19th century, recently restored and put into use as residences. The water wheel now works to generate green electricity.

The history of Château Snyers, also known as Château de la Valette, began in the early 16th century. In 1505, the original fortified castle, which until then had served a distinctly defensive purpose, was largely destroyed by fire. On the same site, a decision was made to erect a new building that better suited the changing living conditions and residential ideals of the Renaissance period. During the seventeenth century, the estate was repeatedly confronted with the consequences of the many wars that plagued the region. Troop movements, looting, and military occupations left their mark, causing considerable damage to the castle. This period of instability led to decay, which was only thoroughly addressed at the end of the eighteenth century. In 1791, Marquis Jean-Claude-Bernardin de la Valette (chamberlain to the Emperor of Austria) took the initiative for a major reconstruction and embellishment of the castle, giving it its current harmonious appearance. After several changes of ownership, the castle eventually came into the possession of Louis-Joseph Snyers, a notary and former mayor of Hannuit. Under his name, the estate became permanently associated with the Snyers family.

Beautiful village center with the St. Nazarius Church from 1872 and 2 impressive square-shaped manor houses with origins dating back to the 16th century.

This fortified dovecote, built in 1625 by the Mollin-Monjoye couple, served as a small fort intended to protect the local population during the passage of troops. Source: Information board on site.

great view, nice climb

visible from the road (private property)

Today, the castle houses a 4-room gîte for 11 people. More info: https://www.letulipierdelempereur.be/

This estate was owned by the Fastré de la Neuville family, better known as Longchamps, in the mid-15th century. A first castle, the date of construction of which is unknown but of which some remains remain, remained in the Longchamps family until 1710 when Marie-Françoise de Longchamps, wife of Charles Jean-Baptiste de Fabritius, then bequeathed the property to her daughter Marie-Catherine Françoise de Fabritius. After she married Waltère de Sélys, the estate passed to the barons of Sélys-Longchamps 1 . The castle was built for Michel-Laurent de Sélys ( 1759 - 1837 ), who in 1795 , the year of the reunification of the principality of Liège with France , was president of the new municipal council of Liège and in 1800 mayor under the consulate . Michel Laurent de Sélys Longchamps was married to Marie Denise Gandolphe, born in Paris on 19 March 1777 and died at the Château de Longchamps under the Second Empire, on 28 October 1857. Marie Denise was the daughter of Mathieu Joseph Gandolphe and Denise Jacqueline d'Aran des Castans. Michel-Laurent de Sélys-Longchamps asked the Parisian architect Aimé Dubois for plans for a new castle. The project was entrusted to the Liège entrepreneur Duckers and the Parisian sculptor Mongin. The construction of the castle was completed in 1810. During the emperor's reign, magnificent parties were held there. Source: Wikipedia