Maiden Tower

The Maiden Tower in Zichem is a building from the 14th century (1383-1430).

The tower is also called Markentoren, Lanteerntoren or Vat van Zichem. The function that the tower had is not clear to date. It may have been both a defensive tower and a residential tower with a lot of status. Maiden's Tower is said to refer to a legend while a study in 1969 points to the fact that the tower would have been a defensive tower. Markentoren (mark=border) refers to this.

William II of Jülich sold Zichem to Renier I van Schoonvorst in 1383. His son, Renier II van Schoonvorst, had the tower built. His coat of arms can be seen on the first floor. Around 1430 Renier sold his possessions to Thomas II, Lord of Diest.

During the Eighty Years' War, the tower lost its drawbridge and top floor, among other things. Restorations followed in 1865, 1903 and 2007.

Petit Guillaume