Chimay Castle, Medieval castle in Chimay, Belgium

Chimay Castle is a residential château of light grey and tan stone on a rocky promontory above the Eau Blanche valley. Its right side has a tall square tower with a steep dark pyramidal roof and finial; left of it, a lower range carries a tower with an onion-shaped dome. Small rectangular windows, a projecting balustraded balcony and a lower wing partly covered by climbing greenery complete the complex.

A keep stood here around the year 1000, with towers and a wall added in the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1486 Maximilian I made Chimay a principality for Charles de Croÿ. A fire in 1935 destroyed much of the castle, and Raymond Pelgrims de Bigard rebuilt it in a Renaissance style.

The castle's theatre was rebuilt in 1863 by Le Fuel and Cambon as a miniature rococo replica of Louis XV's theatre at Fontainebleau, seating 200. Madame Tallien, princess of Chimay from 1805, had an earlier theatre built there; Cherubini composed his Messe de Chimay in 1808 and Maria Malibran sang at the castle in 1829. Restored in 1991 with Walloon Region funding, it now hosts occasional singing competitions and a baroque music festival.

Visitors can explore the interior on guided tours that provide access to various rooms including the entrance hall, a weaponry collection, and the chapel. It is helpful to check in advance when tours are available, as entry inside requires a guide.

The castle theatre, rebuilt in 1863 by Le Fuel and Cambon, is a miniature rococo replica of Louis XV's theatre at the Château de Fontainebleau and seats 200 people. It served as a set for Gérard Corbiau's film Le Maître de musique and was restored in 1991 with funding from the Walloon Region.