Solvay Castle, 19th century castle in La Hulpe, Belgium.
Solvay Castle is a 19th-century mansion built in the Flemish Neo-Renaissance style in La Hulpe, Belgium, with symmetrically arranged gardens and ornamental sculptures on the grounds. The building sits at the heart of a large estate that includes ponds, woodlands, and several outbuildings scattered across the property.
The estate was built in 1843 for the industrialist Ernest Solvay and stayed in private family hands for over a century. His grandson donated the whole property to the Belgian State in 1972.
The Folon Foundation occupies the old farmhouse on the estate and displays the work of Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon. Visitors can see his colorful watercolors, sculptures, and posters in rooms that were originally used for farming.
The grounds are free to enter and three marked walking trails guide visitors through the woods, ponds, and open fields. Those with mobility difficulties will find wide, level paths throughout much of the estate.
A 36-meter (about 118 feet) tall obelisk topped with a golden sun marks the edge of the property and can be seen through a straight clearing cut through the forest. This line of sight was deliberately designed to draw the eye from the mansion toward the monument.
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