Château of Belœil, Protected heritage castle in Belœil, Belgium
Château of Belœil is a moated castle with four round corner towers in a rectangular layout, located in the town of Belœil, Belgium. The entire property includes the main building plus extensive formal gardens arranged in geometric patterns.
The Ligne family acquired the estate in 1394 and gradually transformed it from a military fortification into a residence for their family. A major fire in 1900 damaged interior sections, but key collections and the structure itself survived.
The castle reflects how Belgian nobility lived, with rooms preserving the style of different periods through the centuries. Visitors can observe the art and objects the family valued and how they arranged their living spaces.
The castle is open to visitors primarily on weekends and holidays from April through September, with group tours available by arrangement. Access to the grounds is straightforward, with clear entry points near the parking area.
The gardens were created in 1664 and still follow the French formal style with straight paths and symmetrical ponds, almost unchanged from their original design. Walking through them shows how gardens of that era were conceived to mirror mathematical order and control of nature.
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