Castle farm. Feudal power in Thon.

In the main street, in the immediate vicinity of the church, stands the castle farm of Ton. It is a large enclosed and whitewashed complex. As early as the 14th century, it was mentioned as the seat of a lordship. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the fortification developed from the medieval square keep. What we see of this tower today is a 19th-century renovation.

The castle farm has also undergone several changes over the centuries to acquire its current appearance.
On the east side, we see the 16th-century brick house with two floors. Two windows stand out due to a Gothic accolade. To the south of the keep, the second house from the 17th century has retained its original bays. The elegant facade in the courtyard is a late 18th-century design. Pay special attention to the tall windows with curved lintels and a large round arched door. The whole is crowned by an imposing stone cornice. In the corner formed by both buildings stands a square stair tower with striking arrow slits for 'hook guns' (primitive firearms).
The large honor courtyard, which was part of the building's defensive role, is surrounded by a high wall. It connects to the street via an imposing gate whose wings are decorated with knockers in the shape of lion heads. To complete the defense, a small square corner tower stands in the northeast, while another tower protects the southwest flank. To the south of the castle, there is a large farm from the 17th century, which was renovated and expanded in the 19th century.
The ensemble of "castle and farm" shows a strong cohesion, not only due to the ordered layout of two adjacent quadrangles, but also because of the building materials (limestone, whitewash, slate) and the volumes (shallow buildings, except for the barn, projecting roofs with identical slopes).

Jan Rymenams