Genoels-Elderen Castle, Heritage castle in Riemst, Belgium.

Genoels-Elderen Castle is a U-shaped building with two projecting wings, each topped by a pediment, and a white-plastered facade under a dark slate roof. Its central block carries a clock in a triangular pediment above a double door reached by a stone staircase, and the wings end in square towers with spires and weathervanes. Service buildings, a coach house and a French-style park with Apollo and Artemis fountains lie in line with the wings.

A first castle is recorded in 1265, built by Godenoel van Elderen; troops from Tongeren burned it in 1407 and Godenoel IV van Elderen founded a new one. The Van Elderen family held it until 1718, followed by the d'Oyembrugge and, from 1754, the De Borchgrave family. Count Guillaume de Borchgrave rebuilt it in 1859 in neo-classical and Louis-Philippe style, giving the present appearance.

Genoels-Elderen is one of the most recognized wine estates in Belgium, and visitors can directly experience the connection between the castle grounds and local wine production. The rose gardens surrounding the courtyard give the property a distinct character that is visible even outside the harvest season.

The estate welcomes visitors throughout the year, and guided tours cover the vineyards, gardens, cellars, and historic rooms inside the castle. It is worth checking opening times before you go, as tours are generally organized in advance.

The underground cellars beneath the estate date back to the 13th century and are still actively used for storing and aging wines today. The property also houses a distillery that produces spirits alongside the wines, making it one of the few wine castles in Belgium to combine both activities on the same grounds.