The first written mention of Durbuy dates back to 1078, with a reference to
‘Comes Henricus de Dolbui castello’ (‘Count Henry from the castle of Durbuy’).
Thus there was already a castle in Durbuy during this feudal period: it was probably built by Henry I, who held the territory of Durbuy.
The island in the River Ourthe must originally have been identified as a suitable location for a fortress. It was inaccessible to the north, the side on which most of the water flowed past, while on its southern slope a village of several dozen houses could be sited.
Durbuy was the seat of an important county. In the 12th century it was combined with La Roche, and then passed into the control of Gérard of Luxembourg in the 13th century. At this point it lost its status as a county, but remained a very important seigniory with rights to administer justice.
In 1331, John the Blind, Count of Luxembourg and King of Bohemia, elevated Durbuy to city status.
Durbuy was surrounded by ramparts and incorporated into the defensive network of the County of Luxembourg against its neighbours and enemies, the Principality of Liège and the Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy.
The ramparts had a perimeter of around 550 metres, and enclosed a settlement and a castle which occupied a combined area of just 2 hectares.
In the early 15th century, control of Durbuy was ceded to a series of provisional owners, lasting until the early 18th century.
It passed successively into the hands of the de Mors, de Schoonvorst, de Virneburg, de la Marck, d'Oostfrise and Schetz de Grobendoncq families.
In 1726, the d'Ursel family became the owners of Durbuy, and in 1756 the Duke of Ursel purchased the seigniory and thus gained full control of the territory.
The 16th century and the first forty years of the 17th century were the most glorious period in the city’s history. Trade prospered, and the metalworking industry flourished. As the administrative centre of a seigniory and a provostship, the city was the first to benefit from the region’s prosperity.
The 17th century was a troubled period for the territory of Durbuy, which was caught up in the torment of the war between Spain, the Netherlands and France. The plague of 1636 also claimed a great many victims.
The castle and walls, which were already practically in ruins due to lack of maintenance, were demolished on the orders of Louis XIV.
It was also during this century that the monastery of the Récollet monks and then the convent of the Récollectine nuns were established within Durbuy’s walls, conferring a specific character on the city. In 1725, the nuns filled in the branch of the river which ran past the oldest part of the city and had a bridge constructed over the Ourthe.
In the 18th century, Durbuy’s trade went into decline, and a prospering Barvaux became the real centre of the territory of Durbuy.
Durbuy became increasingly isolated in its natural basin, far from the road and rail networks and from important rivers.
The first tourists arrived in Durbuy in the 19th century.
Two large hotels were built: the Liège and the Albert. Tennis courts were created and a small convertible bus travelled the route between Barvaux station and Durbuy.
Since the mid-20th century, tourism and the resultant commerce have been the city’s main source of revenue.
Durbuy’s entry into the 21st century has been marked by some major changes.
The face of the city is changing, with the creation of new car parks, the embellishment of the city’s narrow streets and the enhanced presentation of the architectural and natural heritage.
The world’s smallest city is facing the future boldly, while holding onto its identity as a rural city.
