The history of Château Jemeppe stretches back to the thirteenth century.
- The first owner, Jean d’Ochain, built the grand Donjon around 1270 as a home, and also as a defence during the heavy battles that were regularly waged at the time for control of the settlement of Jemeppe (now Hargimont). The characteristic battlements of the Donjon can still be seen today.
- In the Middle Ages, the ‘manor’ of Jemeppe consisted of only a few buildings. They were surrounded by marshland and the river Hédrée, which off ered little protection against the ruling families of Namur and Luxemburg, who had been fighting to gain control of the duchies of Durbuy and La Roche since the 12th century. Jean d’Ochain therefore decided to build the Donjon, since a fortified house was the only means of defence against attacks from soldiers and plunderers. Originally, the Donjon had five storeys. Access to the upper and lower floors and the two cellars is via the ground floor, through the only door to the tower. The first two floors were designed as living quarters, and the two floors above that were of a more basic design and used as staff quarters, for storage, and to provide shelter for the fleeing inhabitants from the manor of Jemeppe.
- The Donjon remained in the D’Ochain family until 1616. Raes D’Ans, Lord of Velroux, became the owner when he married Catherine de Jemeppe. Shortly after 1616, Raes D’Ans probably extended the fortified tower with living quarters into a square castle building.
- Château Jemeppe has been extended over the centuries. The wings of the castle, which surround a courtyard, date from the beginning of the 17th century. The moat, farmstead and other buildings also date from that period.The wings were modernised in 1739 and 1748, and more windows were added. Restoration work was also carried out at the beginning of the 19th century, including on the gallery and the gatehouse next to the Donjon.
- In 1838, Château Jemeppe passed to the noble De Sauvage-Vercour family. Between 1865 and 1875, Sir Adrien De Sauvage-Vercour had extensive renovation work carried out on the castle. Attics and pitched roofs were added to the wings. Sir Adrien also commissioned an unknown architect to build a ‘crowning apex’ on the Donjon, and the old flat roof was replaced by the present steep roof. After the work was completed, neo-mediaeval weathervanes were added to the tower roofs. One of the vanes still bears the De Sauvage-Vercour monogram.
- The castle’s present layout dates back to the 19th century. After a period of neglect in the 20th century, Château Jemeppe has now been restored to its former glory, and the original plan of the estate is also visible again.
