Château de Rixensart, Baroque castle in Rixensart, Belgium.
Château de Rixensart is a baroque castle in Belgium featuring a central courtyard, four octagonal corner towers, and red brick walls decorated with blue stone elements. The property extends across a large estate with French gardens and various outbuildings.
Construction took place between 1631 and 1730 during a time when the region faced political tensions between European powers. The Merode family acquired the castle in 1715 and has maintained ownership ever since.
The interior rooms display furniture from the Louis XV and XVI periods alongside Flemish tapestries in the formal reception areas. These collections show the taste of the noble families who lived here across generations.
Visits are available from April through October, with guided tours offered on weekends and public holidays. The French gardens are easy to walk through and allow visitors to explore the grounds at a leisurely pace.
The castle holds a collection of Arabian weapons brought back by mathematician Gaspard Monge during Napoleon's 1798 Egypt campaign. This unusual assemblage reflects how European explorers gathered exotic items to bring home.
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