Fortress of Samson - Thon

The Fort of Samson (circa 300 - 1691) was located on a rocky outcrop in the Samson district, in the village of Thon.

In about AD 300 , during the late years of the Roman Empire, the Romans built a small fortress or oppidum on top of the rock. The fort gave them a view of the Maas. The fort was not on a highway. Next to the fortress of Samson, whose Roman name is unknown, a Roman cemetery was established from the end of the 4th century.

The Franks took over the fortress (5th century). The cemetery was expanded with graves containing weapons. Due to invasions by the Normans, the counts of Namur were forced to build fortifications along the Meuse. The fortress of Samson was built to defend Namur.
It contained three structures on three terraces in the hills. Benefiting from the natural protection provided by the rocky walls, the fortifications of the fortress were divided into three parts: a first wall enclosing a large courtyard , a second wall containing the bassecour and the outbuildings and finally, behind a drawbridge, the third perimeter wall, the seat of the lords' residence and the keep. Samson's fortress in Namur was taken only once.

In the 17th century, the Spaniards ruled that the fortress of Samson could not withstand an artillery attack and therefore had to be demolished . In 1691 nothing remained of the fortress of Samson. It was used as a quarry for the construction of many buildings in Thon and Samson.

Today only a few remains of the prestigious fortress remain. Two towers, along with a remnant of the wall , are still visible from the entrance to the valley.

Willem Vandenameele