History
A Bicentennial House,
A Contemporary Cottage,
A Unique Place…
18th and 19th centuries
The oldest pictorial trace of the building is found in a painting by Théodore Baron dating back to 1872. It depicts a representation of the Meuse River and the Rochers de Frênes from the bank at the entrance of Profondeville.
Beneath them, on the right, you can see a building consisting of a main structure and an annex.
The base of the building dates back to 1752, as indicated by an engraved inscription found on it.
Théodore Baron – « Les Rochers de Frênes » 1872
Château de Frêne in Lustin – Postcard circa 1920
Late 19th century
From the late 19th century onwards, it appears that this building was linked to the estate of Château de Frêne located downstream.
This castle, owned at the time by the Dorlodot family, wealthy industrialists of the region, is part of the many vacation estates along the Meuse River in Namur.
According to local memory, the cottage building served as an annex reserved for the castle’s coachman.
20th century
The building underwent numerous renovations, including the addition of a tower to enhance its character.
One will notice the significant similarity in the design of the tower and its roof with that of Château Dorlodot.
Château Dorlodot, which had passed into the hands of the Misonne family, was expropriated in 1973 for the CIBE water catchment project, which still provides a portion of the drinking water to the Brussels region.
Postcard dating back to the 1930s
Exterior View of the Cottage in 2023
21st century
The current owners purchased the property in 2022 and embarked on a comprehensive interior restoration and exterior enhancement of the building.
The task was entrusted to the well-known architectural firm Atelier d’Architecture TELLIER JOASSIN in the Namur region. This intervention skillfully blends the old and the contemporary, restoring all the splendor to this little gem of the Meuse in Namur.
Archives
Photos
