Middle Ages In the early
Middle Ages, Marche was just a little hamlet on the Marchette brook, one of the dependencies of the nearby Abbey of
Stavelot. In the 12th century, this territory was made part of the County of
La Roche. It was ideally located, on the main road between
Namur and
Luxembourg City, and quickly evolved into a town, which obtained its
charter in the 13th century. At the end of the century, in true medieval fashion, it acquired a complete system of
defensive walls, with two gates, a series of
watchtowers, and a
keep. The market place and religious organizations, such as the Carmes convent founded in 1473, could thrive inside the closed city. (1577)
After 1500 When in 1555
Philip II of Spain, son of
Charles V, inherited his father's empire, the freedoms of
Spain's
Seventeen Provinces to the north were reduced considerably, giving rise to the
Eighty Years' War. In the aftermath of the
Pacification of Ghent, Don
John of Austria, Philip II's half brother, granted the
Perpetual Edict, which was signed in the city in February 1577. The edict allowed for the departure of the Spanish troops and recognized most of the city's freedoms, with the notable exception of religion. The war started again and Don John died a year later near Namur. The castle and defensive walls were dismantled at the end of the 17th century on the orders of
Louis XIV. A century later, the
French Revolutionary troops entered the city and closed the convent. Fighting occurred in and around Marche in December 1944 as part of the
Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive in West during
World War II. Today, with its schools, light industries, military complex, and tourist attractions, Marche is a vibrant regional centre. ==Sights==