Differdange Castle located on a hill in the centre of Differdange

Differdange

Differdange is a commune with city status in south-western Luxembourg. Differdange is an industrial city that was home to much of Luxembourg's steel production, and lies near the borders with Belgium and France...

 in southern Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...

, was built in 1577 although an earlier fortified castle of Differdange dates from around 1310. Today's residential castle is used by Miami University

Miami University

Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...

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History

The first lord of Differdange Castle was Wilhelm, brother of the Lord of Soleuvre, who is mentioned in documents from 1310 when he owned a fortified castle. However, the lords of Differdange lasted only until the death of Wilhelm's grandson around the year 1400. When Soleuvre Castle burnt down in 1552, the owner Anna von Insenburg decided not to repair it but to build a Renaissance-style

Renaissance architecture

Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...

 residential castle in Differdange serving both Soleuvre

Soleuvre

Soleuvre is a town in the commune of Sanem, in south-western Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 4,802. Soleuvre is the fourteenth-largest town in Luxembourg, and the largest that is not the most populous in its own commune ....

 and Differdange.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the castle came into the hands of the local steel industry, now Arcelor Mittal who used it as a hotel and a restaurant for its staff.

Architecture

Differdange Castle is probably the earliest example in Luxembourg of a château built entirely in the Renaissance style. It was originally intended both as a residence and a fortification with a moat and draw-bridge (now both removed) as well as loop-holes. It is constucted fully in accordance with the principles of Renaissance architecture, especially the use of the square both for the courtyard (15 by 15 metres) and the outer walls of the three buildings (30 by 30 metres) which surround it. The rectangular cross-framed windows are typlical of the period. The octagonal towers which are slightly higher than the central building provide balance between the horizonal and vertical dimensions.

The castle today

Since 1997, the castle has been let to Miami University for use as its Miami University Dolibois European Center

Miami University Dolibois European Center

Miami University Dolibois European Center, abbreviated to MUDEC, is an overseas campus of Miami University, and based in Differdange, in south-western Luxembourg. Between 125 and 130 students per semester study at MUDEC, from Miami and other American universities.The centre is named after John E...

, a European teaching centre providing students with "a living history for their European experience". The center is named in honour of former American Ambassador to Luxembourg, John E. Dolibois

John E. Dolibois

John Ernest Dolibois is a retired United States Ambassador to Luxembourg and college administrator.A native of Luxembourg, Dolibois emigrated to the United States with his father in 1931...

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