Rochefort

26 to 30 May 2025

Monday finds Julie and Anthony in the cute mountain town of Rochefort. Our AirBnB, had a cute little back yard. Our host also left us two bottles of Rochefort Trappist (8 and 10 percent). Also, when Anthony picked up the dinner he also bought the cycle of Chimay Red (dubbel), Blue (dark brown), White (Trippel) and Green (Blonde)

On Tuesday, Julie and Anthony visited the Grottes of Han a cave system a few kilometers from Rochefort.

An old candle holder

Aliens

We picked the Grottes of Han because there was a laser light show. It did not disappoint, depicting scenes from history of the caves in huge images on the cavern walls.

View of the exit of the Grottes from inside and out.

Later that afternoon, we drove to the Battle of Bulge memorial in Roche-en-Ardenne. The plaque commemorates the Scottish Highlanders and the 84th US Infantry meeting up to liberate the town on 11 January 1946.

Julie and Anthony attempted to hike up to the Chateau de Fiodal de Laroche en Varden. We tried following the signs that had a ghost on them…

Julie says: Really?

Anthony in somebody's driveway

We hiked up the hill, and ended up walking down someone’s driveway to try to get to the chateau. We stopped when the trail ended in weeds only 30 meters from the chateau.

The ghost signs made us curious though so we looked it up. Back in the 10th century, the Count of La Roche had his only daughter, Berthe, as his heir. In order to find her a worthy husband he threw a tournament, her hand in marriage the prize. The first knight to enter was the huge Count of Montaigu, who was unbeaten. Because he was so feared, no other knight challenged him. However, the Count was already betrothed to the Countess Alix de Salm. At the very last moment a knight, very small in size, entered the courtyard. The duel commenced, with the Count trying to land a killing blow and the small knight evading each attempt. The Count overreached, fell off his horse and the small knight was on him, cutting his throat before he could get up. The small knight was declared the winner and was wed to Berthe. The next morning, when the newlyweds failed to show up for the morning meal, Berthe’s father went up to the nuptial chamber and knocked. No answer. Concerned, he went inside to find the room empty. He ran to the window and looking down saw two bodies on the banks of the Ourthe river. It was discovered that the knight was no other than the Countess Alix de Salm!! In her rage of being cuckolded, she killed her betrothed, then Berthe and finally herself. It is said that from Easter to mid-September, the Berthe’s ghost can be seen walking the ramparts.

On Wednesday, we drove to Castle Vianden in Luxembourg.

Julie and Anthony walked down into the town for lunch.

Anthony found a potential venue for a future Little German Band and Dancers show in Vianden.

A chapel, Anthony thought it looked a bit like a face.

Naughty Anthony

The servants were allowed to listen to mass trough this hole in the floor above.

Mass is performed here, for the rich and powerful.

Views from the castle walls.

There was a political cartoon exhibit in one of the rooms in the castle. These two appealed to Julie and Anthony.

Door to the inner sanctum, where all of the sensitive meetings were held. The rose on the lintel above the door was a reminder not to repeat what was said in this room, under pain of death.

Double bed and fireplace

Julie and Anthony took a ski lift. Anthony took too many pictures of the castle, cause it looked so cool from the lift. Julie was sure he was going to drop his phone.

Julie saw a house she liked from the ski lift (the white one with the glass).

A dam up the Our river, with the three stooges (or Marx Brothers, take your pick).

On Thursday, Ascension Day, Julie and Anthony visited Namur, with the hopes of taking the gondola up to the citadel. The was an Ascension Day festival in the city center, so we had to drive up the hill to find parking.