Château de Poilvache

In Dinant our route crosses the Meuse and continues along the right bank of the river. High above the village of Houx are the overgrown ruins of the Tour de Géronsart and the Château de Poilvache, built, according to legend, by the Haimon children. Actually it dates from the 10th century and was destroyed in 1430 by the soldiers of the Bishop of Liège. Its name "castle cowhide" refers to another legend, according to which the beleaguered inhabitants dressed themselves in cowhide in order to slip away. They were however discovered and the besiegers of Dinant donned the cowhide and were able to get into the castle which they quickly subdued.