Dave Castle

Dave Castle, located in what is now the district of Dave within Namur, Belgium, originated as a medieval stronghold for the local lords known as the sieurs of Dave. The estate is among the oldest titled lands in the Namur region, with its first recorded mention dating back to 1284 under Warnier de Daules. The initial castle was constructed on a rocky outcrop by Godefroi de Dave, who secured formal feudal recognition from Count Guillaume I of Namur in 1372, establishing the estate’s noble status.

Throughout the late medieval and early modern periods, the castle passed through several noble families, including the Houses of Boulant and Barbançon. One prominent figure was Octave, Prince of Barbançon, who served as Governor of Namur from 1643 until 1693. During the 17th century, the château suffered ruin, reflecting the turbulent times in the region.

In 1737, the estate entered Spanish ownership through the marriage of Marie-Gabrielle de Wignacourt to Alonso de Solis, Duke of Montellano. Their descendants, the Dukes of Fernan-Núñez, retained possession of the property well into the 20th century. The last feudal lord recorded was Alphonse de Solis, born in 1756. The château was rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries by the Fernan-Núñez family, who maintained the estate as a private residence. Today, the property remains in the hands of the Fernan-Núñez lineage, currently owned by Manuel Falco y de Anchorena, born in 1936.