The Dochain House
aka The Manor

Chapter I

Identity and Location

The Dochain House, commonly called The Manor, is a listed building located at number 2 Manor Street, at the corner of Carmes Street, in the historic heart of Marche-en-Famenne. It is one of the oldest civil buildings still standing in the town and is among the few listed buildings in the province of Luxembourg.

The building takes its name from the d’Ochain family, who owned it in the 17th century. The street along it, formerly called Victor Libert Street, was renamed “Manor Street” in reference to the house.

Chapter II

Building History

Although the four facade anchors date the building to 1616, older elements have been preserved in the foundation — proof that a previous structure already existed on this site. The visible building today was reconstructed after the great fire of 1615, which destroyed a large part of the town of Marche-en-Famenne, including Saint-Remacle Church.

The reconstruction uses the noble materials of the time: limestone rubble for the foundation, window frames, horizontal bands, and corners, and brick for the rest of the building. These materials reflect the status of its owners: influential notables who could afford the best.

The main facade has six bays and two levels. The windows are adjacent, under straight lintels, with shaped mullions. A four-sided slate roof, pierced with dormers, covers the whole — typical of the Mosan style and civil architecture of the region in the early 17th century.

Chapter III

The d’Ochain Family

The name “Dochain” is a contraction of “d’Ochain.” The family originated from the village of Ochain in the Liège Condroz (present-day municipality of Clavier), where the Ochain Castle still stands, with its main facade dating from the 17th century.

In Marche-en-Famenne, the d’Ochain family held several high-ranking political offices: alderman, provost, and mayor. This political influence went hand in hand with a considerable property portfolio: the family owned many properties in the town and region, including the farm-castle of Aye.

The d’Ochain family coat of arms is described by the heraldist Rietstap as: Gules with two silver leopards passant, one above the other. Their influence extended well beyond Marche, with connections in the Condroz and Liège nobility.

Chapter IV

Architectural Description

The Dochain House is described by official tourist sources as a “Renaissance-style residence”, surrounded by a small garden and enclosed by a fence. Its architecture shows the characteristic features of quality civil construction in the region at the beginning of the 17th century.

Materials: The foundation, window frames, horizontal bands, and corners are made of limestone rubble. The rest of the building is brick. This limestone/brick combination was the distinctive mark of bourgeois and noble residences of the region at the time.

Main facade: Six bays, two levels (ground floor and one upper floor). Windows are grouped four in the left bays and two in the right bays, under straight lintels with shaped mullions. Horizontal bands along lintels, sills, and between lintels and sills link the windows together.

Roof: Slate, four-sided, pierced with dormers. This type of roof is characteristic of Mosan and Ardennes architecture.

19th-century modifications: In 1878, the second and third bays from the left were transformed: the windows became doors, with small wrought iron balconies added. These bear the inscription “1616 – JD – 1878”, recalling the original date and that of the modifications.

Interior: The residence retains a remarkable 17th-century fireplace and period furniture, direct testimony to its former splendor. The rear facade has blocked or altered windows from various periods; the side facades are less pierced.