Editing Flémalle (section)

== Heritage ==
=== Architectural Heritage ===
Flémalle has 15 listed heritage monuments and sites, including Aigremont Castle and the [[Schmerling Caves]]. Of course, there are other important monuments in Flémalle that are not listed as heritage sites.

Aigremont Castle is a construction dating back to around 900 and appears in various [[epic poem]]s such as the Song of the Four Sons of Aymon<ref>{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Aigremont Castle – Flémalle-Haute tourism – ViaMichelin |url=https://fr.viamichelin.be/web/Tourist-Site/Flemalle_Haute-4400-Chateau_d_Aigremont-a516xqcp |website=fr.viamichelin.be |access-date=2021-08-30}}.</ref> or the Song of Maugis d'Aigremont. The castle is named after one of the protagonists of these legends: Beuves d'Aigremont. Briefly, the castle belonged to the Church of Liège before being acquired in 1715 by canon Mathias Clercx. He turned the castle into a pleasure residence, which is why, today, there are few fortifications around the fortress. It was during this time that the castle acquired its current appearance, a style typical of Liège architecture, though there is some mix with [[Louis XIV style]]. The interior of the castle contrasts with the exterior, featuring fine [[woodwork]] and [[frescoes]]. To the east, there are French gardens<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aigremont Castle |url=http://tourisme.flemalle.be/pages/index/index/id/72/lang/en |website=tourisme.flemalle.be |access-date=2021-08-30}}.</ref>{{,}}.<ref>{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Historical sites – Aigremont Castle – Flémalle |url=https://www.cirkwi.com/en/point-interet/383562-aigremont-castle |website=cirkwi.com |date=3 December 2015 |access-date=2021-08-30}}.</ref>

Further east from Aigremont, on a rocky promontory, is [[Chokier Castle]]. The choice to build a structure at this location dates back to [[Ancient Rome]] where remains of a [[Roman villa]] have been discovered a few hundred meters from the top of the rock. The course of the [[Meuse River]] near the village of [[Chokier]] is relatively recent as it was only after the limestone quarries in the Aux Roches Nature Reserve were exploited by Saint Peter that the village began to form by pushing the Meuse shoreline towards Ivoz-Ramet. Therefore, before the shoreline advanced, an advanced post, the fortress of Mont Iohy, was located where the castle stands today. Indeed, it is thanks to the construction of the village of Chokier and thus a crossing of the Meuse on the left bank that the advanced post lost its effectiveness and became a pleasure castle in the 18th century. 

After the War of Awans and Waroux, the castle gained fame in the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]]: Guillaume de Hozémont, in 1298, after the war, saw his castle razed; he settled in Rouveroy and sold Hozémont, which included Chokier, to his cousin Jean de Rulant, who was then the [[marshal]] of the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]], the supreme commander of the armies of the [[Prince-Bishop of Liège|Prince]] in wartime and supreme judge in peacetime. The Rulant family's passage to Surlet was through Jean's daughter, who married a certain Jean Surlet. In 1345, the castle was burned by the [[Huy|Hutois]], [[Liège|Liégeois]], and [[Dinant]] people. After the Surlets, the Chabot family held the castle. Filled with a rich history, including a stay by [[Peter the Great]], the castle caught fire on 27 March 2017 due to the [[electric blanket]] of the chatelaine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chokier Castle – History |url=http://www.chokier.com/FILES/CHATEAU/History.html |website=chokier.com |access-date=2021-08-31}}.</ref> The castle in its current form is [[Neoclassicism|neoclassical]].<ref>{{Cite web |language=fr |title=What is this crane doing at Chokier Castle? |url=https://www.rtbf.be/info/regions/liege/detail_what-is-this-crane-doing-at-chokier-castle?id=10442946 |website=RTBF Info |date=5 March 2020 |access-date=2021-08-31}}.</ref> The tower located to the west of the castle dates from the late [[Middle Ages]].<ref>{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Historical sites – Chokier Castle – Flémalle |url=https://www.cirkwi.com/en/point-interet/383563-chokier-castle |website=cirkwi.com |date=3 December 2015 |access-date=2021-08-31}}.</ref> The interior, especially in the entrance hall, is in [[Empire style]] and for a good reason: a general of the [[Napoleonic Army]] lived in the castle for several years.<ref>{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Archive images: Here is the interior of Chokier Castle before the fire |url=https://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20170327_00980858/archive-images-here-is-the-interior-of-chokier-castle-before-the-fire |website=Lavenir.net |access-date=2021-08-31}}.</ref>
[[File:Jan van Eyck 070 Virgin of Chancellor Rolin adj.jpg|thumb|The fortress of Iohy is believed to be at the center of Jan van Eyck's painting ''The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin'']]
The castle is also thought to appear in several famous paintings; for instance, it might be depicted at the center of Jan van Eyck's painting ''The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin'', in the third bend of the Meuse River, formerly the fortress of Mont Iohy. Also by Jan van Eyck, the fortress might appear in the illumination of ''The Birth of Saint John the Baptist'' in ''The Très Belles Heures of Notre-Dame'', also at the center of the image. In 1567, [[Lucas van Valckenborch]] also depicted the fortress in a view of Liège. Less likely, but inspired by ''The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin'', the castle might be associated with the following paintings: ''The Holy Anne Brotherhood'' by [[Quentin Metsys]] and ''The Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist'' by [[Bernard van Orley|Bernaert van Orley]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chokier Castle – Iconography – 1435 Jan van EYCK – The Virgin and Chancellor Rolin or The Virgin of Autun |url=http://www.chokier.com/FILES/ICONOGRAPHIE/Icono-1435-VanEyck.html |website=chokier.com |access-date=2021-09-01}}.</ref>

In an English cottage style, the Château de la Croix Saint-Hubert was built in the 19th century on a green space by Emmanuel Hallet, a native of [[Binche]]. It was Charles Joseph Chaudoir who gave it its current appearance. This castle is privately owned but can be easily seen from walks around it.<ref>{{cite web |lang=en |title=Château, église et abbaye – Le Château de la Croix Saint-Hubert – Flémalle |url=https://www.cirkwi.com/fr/point-interet/1356735-le-chateau-de-la-croix-saint-hubert |website=cirkwi.com |date=20 January 2021 |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref>

Resembling a cadastral farmhouse, the Château de Hautepenne, or Haultepenne, is a castle located in [[Gleixhe]], not far from Warfusée and Rouvroy, in a partially private wooded area. The oldest part of the castle is a [[keep]] dating back to 1330, probably built by Lambert de Harduemont. The rest of the building, constructed in an "L" shape, dates from the 17th century and 18th century. Its style is Liège Renaissance, although the most visible part is the wing built in the 18th century in a Louis XV style at the request of the Duke of Arenberg (the family owning the estate at that time).<ref>{{cite web |lang=fr |title=Lieux historiques – Le château de Hautepenne – Grâce-hollogne |url=https://www.cirkwi.com/fr/point-interet/383565-le-chateau-de-hautepenne |website=cirkwi.com |date=3 December 2015 |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref> This castle notably served as a refuge for [[Guillaume de La Marck]] when he had to flee from Aigremont, which was being attacked by the troops of Prince Louis de Bourbon.<ref>{{cite web |title=CAHPM |url=http://kiminvati.com/paysdemeuse/Pages/ZDIV7CPe15.php |website=kiminvati.com |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref>

The Château de la Petite Flémal' is well-known in the municipality as it houses the municipal services. In 1614, Michel Valkener purchased a property to build his pleasure residence. The castle was expanded with a wing between 1710 and 1738, and then with a second wing after the castle was acquired by the municipality.<ref>{{cite web |title=Le Château de la Petite Flemal' |url=http://tourisme.flemalle.be/pages/index/index/id/75/lang/en |website=tourisme.flemalle.be |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref> In 2020, the interior of the castle was fully renovated. A garden, the municipal park, is located behind the castle.

The construction of the Château de Ramet is said to date back to the 13th century. This castle, accompanied by a "U"-shaped [[courtyard]] is built with a mix of [[sandstone]], [[limestone]], [[bricks]], and [[cut stone]]. The castle is completely surrounded by [[moat]]s still filled with water, with access to the courtyard via a small stone bridge.<ref>{{cite web |lang=fr |title=Lieux historiques – Le château de Ramet – Flémalle |url=https://www.cirkwi.com/fr/point-interet/383564-le-chateau-de-ramet |website=cirkwi.com |date=3 December 2015 |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref> Remacle Le Loup created an [[engraving]] of the castle and its surroundings in 1738.<ref>{{cite web |title=CAHPM |url=http://kiminvati.com/paysdemeuse/Pages/ZDIV7CPe2.php |website=kiminvati.com |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref>

Finally, the Château de Ramioul, a large three-story castle with an average height of 12 meters, was built around 1840. It features an 18th-century gatehouse, with the rest mainly dating from the 19th century. The castle is in excellent condition due to the [[geriatrics]] activity it houses.<ref>{{cite web |title=PSS / Château de Ramioul (Flémalle, Belgium) |url=https://www.pss-archi.eu/immeubles/BE-62120-62031.html |website=pss-archi.eu |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref><gallery mode="packed-hover" caption="Castles in Flémalle">
File:Chateau d'Aigremont.JPG|alt=Photograph of a Liège Renaissance style castle.|Château d'Aigremont.
File:090416 Chokier 3.jpg|alt=Photograph of a medieval building in Liège Renaissance style.|Château de Chokier, before the fire.
File:Château de Hautepenne, côté Ouest.jpg|alt=Photograph of a medieval and Renaissance building.|Château de Hautepenne.
File:Flémalle (petite) - Castle - Town Hall.jpg|alt=Photograph of a Renaissance building facade.|Château de la Petite Flémal'.
File:Ramet - Castle.jpg|alt=Photograph of a medieval building.|Château de Ramet.
</gallery> The [[Fort de Flémalle]] is a large trapezoidal fort. Located on the former commune of Flémalle-Grande, overlooking the [[Meuse River]] and the routes to [[Namur]], this fort was built according to the plans of General [[Henri Alexis Brialmont]] from 1888 to 1891 and faces the fort of [[Boncelles]]. In 1914, it was the site of fierce fighting between the Flémalle resistance and the German invaders who occupied and modified it. Re-armed in the 1930s, the fort still bears many scars from heavy bombardments. During World War II, it was at the Fort de Flémalle that Colonel Modart established the control post of the Liège Fortified Position.<ref>{{cite web |lang=en |title=Fort de Flémalle and its Museum |url=https://fortdeflemalle.wixsite.com/fortdeflemalle |website=fortdeflemalle |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref>

In 1929, after a few years of abandonment, an underground fort was constructed beneath the Brialmont fort, which is why some ventilation towers were placed nearby to supply fresh air to the basements. This ventilation tower has been an [[artwork]] since 2014: carved on all sides, each cut represents, according to Lebanese artist Marie Zolamian, a day of waiting per prisoner in the fort.<ref>{{cite web |lang=en |title=Fort de Flémalle and its Museum |url=https://www.visitezliege.be/en/offer/fort-de-flemalle-and-its-museum |website=visitezliege.be |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref>

The modernization of the fort in 1929 was accompanied by the addition of a dome with a 150 mm cannon, a dome with two 105 mm cannons, four clip-on domes with a 75 mm cannon, and a dome with a machine gun.

Regarding the fall of the fort, German General [[Wolfram von Richthofen|von Richthofen]], known as the "Red Baron," writes in his war book ''Stukas! Strohmeyer, Curt. – Berlin: Verl. "Die Heimbücherei"'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Catalog of the German National Library |url=https://portal.dnb.de/opac/showFullRecord?currentResultId=betRef=129413232&any&currentPosition=0 |website=portal.dnb.de |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref> he recounts:<ref>https://kvoosror.be/uploaded-Liege2/files/files/Visites%20et%20activit%C3%A9s/Avant%202019/FLEMALLE%20FORT.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref>

{{Block quote|The important fort still wasn't enough! Again 27 Junkers 87! One hit after another. Impact after impact. Bomb after bomb. And Flémalle surrenders, crushed by the Stukas. A weary garrison leaves the fort, whose turrets are caught in a vise and crushed, whose gorges are torn and entrances buried. Four times the commander and his squadron attacked Flémalle, until the fort was reduced to ruins and the stubborn defenders turned into human rubble under their blows.}}

It is also the only place in [[Belgium]] where a museum room is exclusively dedicated to American female pilots. The museum also displays the daily lives of civilians and, of course, soldiers.<ref>{{cite web |lang=en |title=Fort de Flémalle and its Museum |url=http://fort-de-flemalle-and-son-museum.html/ |website=liegetourisme.be |accessdate=2021-08-31}}.</ref> The fort is open to the public on the first Saturday of each month.<gallery mode="packed-hover" caption="Fort de Flémalle">
File:Fort de Flémalle - entrée.jpg|alt=Military building in concrete.|The entrance to Fort de Flémalle in winter.
File:Fort de Flémalle - couloir.jpg|alt=Military building.|The entrance corridor of the fort, leading to the outside.
File:Fort de Flémalle - cour intérieure.jpg|alt=Military building.|The inner courtyard of Fort de Flémalle in winter.
File:Fort de Flémalle - tour d'aération.jpg|alt=Military building.|One of the ventilation towers of Fort de Flémalle in winter.
</gallery> The village of [[Chokier]] is a prime example of Liège architectural heritage. The buildings in the center, around the square and the church, in particular, have hardly changed since their construction. Of course, the most famous monument is its castle, followed by its church, but strolling along the Chaussée de Chokier and its buildings is like taking a step back in time.

On the eastern side of the village, you can notice a statue with a unique appearance. This monument is a tribute to Hippolyte Guillery, Chief Engineer of Bridges and Roads, who is said to have doubled the province's fortune. He made navigation on the Meuse between Liège and Namur possible year-round by constructing about ten locks. He also redefined the course of the Meuse and removed the islands between the banks at Flémalle.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chateau de Chokier – The Hippolyte Guillery Monument |url=http://www.chokier.com/FILES/VILLAGE/Guillery.html |website=chokier.com |accessdate=2021-09-01}}.</ref><gallery mode="packed-hover" caption="Village of Chokier">
File:Chokier Church.jpg|The village square of Chokier in winter.
File:Chokier - town and castle.jpg|Chaussée de Chokier, with a view of the castle in winter.
File:20170416 094 chokier.jpg|Saint Marcelin Church of Chokier.
File:20170416 151 chokier.jpg|The monument dedicated to Hippolyte Guillery at the eastern entrance of the village.
File:20170416 078 chokier.jpg|Typical village building attached to the church.
File:20170416 109 chokier.jpg|The chapel located in the green space along the quays.
File:090416 Chokier 1.jpg|Full view of the village.
</gallery> The Châtaigneraie is a manor house built between 1830 and 1840,<ref>{{cite web |title=Walloon Center for Contemporary Art |url=http://tourisme.flemalle.be/pages/index/index/id/327/lang/en |website=tourisme.flemalle.be |accessdate=2021-09-01}}.</ref> set in a classified park protected by the [[Walloon Region]], and now houses the Walloon Center for Contemporary Art. The property belongs to the Municipality of Flémalle, which maintains it. The Châtaigneraie has housed this center since 1979, and it was only in 1984 that the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles recognized the site for the promotion of contemporary art.<ref>{{cite web |lang=en |title=Walloon Center for Contemporary Art « La Châtaigneraie » |url=https://www.visitezliege.be/en/offer/la-chataigneraie-walloon-center-for-contemporary-art |website=visitezliege.be |accessdate=2021-09-01}}.</ref>

=== Château and Park of the Petite Flémal' ===

This castle ({{coord|50|35|57.10|N|05|28|12.21|E}}) located on the Grand' Route has housed municipal services since 1938. It was built in several stages: the right wing was constructed during the 17th century. Then the left wing, dating from the 18th century. Finally, a last wing extending towards the park was built in 1984. The castle is accompanied by a park featuring various garden styles: Italian, French, and an English garden.

=== The Chockier Quarry: Nature Reserve ===
[[File:Carte sentiers rnf.jpg|upright|thumb|Map of the Chockier nature reserve trails by Théo Halkin<ref>Archives: Études & Environnement asbl</ref>]]

Under the guidance of ''Études & Environnement'' asbl, efforts to preserve the old Sacré quarries began in 1994. Well-exposed to the sun, these quarries – on the left bank of the Meuse – had developed a very interesting flora and fauna, which were the subject of a nature guide thesis. In 1996, protection of 27 ha was achieved, and a 30-year agreement was signed between the ''Natagora'' association and the municipality of Flémalle.<ref group="B">L. Malchair, ''Flémalle: d'Aigremont à l'Ermitage. Thesis presented for obtaining the nature guide diploma, year 1993–1994. Center for Continuing Education for Nature Protection'', Liège, 1994, 205 p.</ref>

=== Caves and Prehistoric Museum ===

The Prehistomuseum of Ramioul is an educational tourism center focused on [[Prehistory]] in Belgium.<ref group="B">{{cite journal
| language        =  fr
| first           =  Albert
| last            =  Brunet
| title           =  Le préhistosite de Ramioul en Belgique
| journal         =  [[Archéologia]]
| issue           =  312
| date           =  May 1995
| pages           = 10–11
| issn            =  0570-6270
}}</ref>

In its vicinity are several caves that have yielded significant [[archaeological]] materials, some of which are displayed at the museum of the prehistoric site.