Chimay — The Medicis' Poisoned Legacy

Your quest begins at the Château de Chimay, an 11th-century fortress, rebuilt in Renaissance style in the 16th century by the Princes of Chimay. Here, in the heart of the Principality of Chimay, you, Charles II de Croÿ, reside. The residence, linked to the House of Noailles in the 18th century, was classified as a Belgian historic monument in 1937. With its 30-meter high towers and 10-hectare park, this castle was the scene of many intrigues. Although Catherine de Médicis has no direct historical link with Chimay, the themes of Renaissance poisons resonate within its walls, reminding you of the dangers looming over your court.

Continue towards the Grand-Place de Chimay, the historical center of the Principality, surrounded by 17th-18th century buildings. The gable-fronted houses, typical of the Walloon style, mostly date from the 18th century and were the site of markets and public events since the Middle Ages. Less than 100 meters from the Château de Chimay, this bustling square immerses you in the economic fervor of the region's agriculture. Observe the architectural details; each facade could conceal a crucial clue for your investigation into Walloon heritage.

The Collegiate Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Chimay, built between 1546 and 1553 under the impetus of your ancestor Charles de Croÿ, Prince of Chimay, is your next stop. Its late Gothic style with Renaissance elements, its 40-meter long nave, houses the tomb of Princess Gabrielle de Croÿ (†1610), the prince's sister. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1941, it contains sculpted 17th-century confessionals. This place of contemplation and secrets invites you to decipher religious symbols and hidden messages in the stone, essential for understanding the forces at play in the Principality of Chimay.

The Old Grain Market Hall of Chimay, an 18th-century building located on the Grand-Place, served as a covered market for grain trade. Its classical Walloon architecture with exposed wooden framework, restored in the 20th century, is a testament to the thriving agricultural economy of the Principality of Chimay. As prince, you oversaw this vital trade. Rue de Noailles, named after the Noailles family, Princes of Chimay in the 18th-19th centuries, with its bourgeois houses from the 17th-18th centuries and local blue stone paving, leads you towards the ramparts. It is here, on this Walloon thematic circuit, that rumors spread and conspiracies take shape.

Your journey leads you to the Porte de Mons, a 14th-century fortified gate, restored in 1980, the last remnant of the 7 original gates. Approximately 12 meters high with machicolations, it marked the southern access to the city towards Mons. Finally, the Prince's Garden of Chimay, adjacent to the castle, created in the 18th century by Prince Alexandre de Croÿ, offers a peaceful haven of 2 hectares in French style. This garden, open to the public, is the ideal place for a final reflection. This Chimay scavenger hunt will have immersed you in the history of Chimay, revealing the links between historical figures and the medieval and Renaissance heritage of this Walloon city.