Castle and Gardens of Freÿr / Meuse (Belgium)

A diary covering a life of 96 years

• Louise de Coulonges saw the Tuileries burning from the apartment of her parents, rue of Rivoli (Paris, 1870). She married Théodule de Laubespin and lived thereafter in Freÿr. She kept a diary, of which here are some extracts.
• 1914:
  • Théodule (66 years) has to walk on foot for 15 km with the men of Freÿr. They are not shot and are miraculously freed.
  • Until 1918, the Germans occupy Freÿr transformed into a military hospital. Each night, one hears the booted soldiers marching along the Meuse.
• 1929: "There is no greater misfortune that could happen to us": Humbert (her sole son) died.
• 1940 :
  • Stukas bombard the bridge of Anseremme and pass hedge hopping over the roofs of Freÿr. Louise leaves Freÿr for France, abandoning for the first time this house, that was entrusted to her by the previous generations: "Should I live for 1000 years, I hope never to reexperience such a time."
  • 1942-43: The Gestapo comes several times to take the men, who had fled in the woods.