Differdange Castle
Differdange Castle is a Renaissance-era château located on a hill in the centre of Differdange in southern Luxembourg. It was built in 1577, although an earlier fortified castle of Differdange dates from around 1310. It has been the campus of Miami University Dolibois European Center since 1997.
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 28 May 1552, the owner Anna von Insenburg decided not to repair it but to build a Renaissance-style residential castle in Differdange serving both Soleuvre and Differdange.In 1794, while the French Revolutionary Wars were raging in Europe, Luxembourg was under siege. Differdange was situated between the House of Habsburg in Luxembourg City, and the French invaders of Longwy. Differdange "consequently morphed into a target of the bellicose French troops on more than one tragic occasion. The local abbey and the castle became the scene of many violent altercations because they were perceived as symbols of the feudal system."
At the beginning of the 20th century, the castle came into the hands of the local steel industry ARBED who used it as a hotel and a restaurant for its staff until it became the Miami University Dolibois European Center in 1997. The center is named in honour of former American ambassador to Luxembourg, John E. Dolibois.