Ardenne Castle, or the Royal Castle of Ardenne (Château Royal d'Ardenne, formerly also spelled "Hardenne") was situated in the municipality of Houyet in Belgium not far from Ciergnon Castle. The construction of the building was ordered in 1874 by King Leopold II of Belgium, to the plans of his architect Alphonse Balat. It replaced an older hunting lodge built in the 1830s by Leopold I.

King Leopold II wanted to promote the Belgian region of the Ardennes as a holiday destination for the fashionable set. To this end he had his château converted into a luxury hotel. A railway station in the corner of the park made the remote castle accessible to tourists. An 18-hole golf course was installed in the park. The Compagnie Internationale des Grands Hotels ran the hotel from 1898 onwards. It finally closed its doors in 1950, and was then destroyed by fire in 1968. The remains were demolished in 1970.

Today only the "Tour Léopold", a pavilion in the beautiful park, remains of the vast castle. It serves as a club house to the Royal Golf Club du Château Royal d'Ardenne.



Château Royal d'Ardenne

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Château Miranda (English: Miranda Castle), also known as Château de Noisy (English: Noisy Castle) was a 19th-century neo-Gothic castle in Celles, province of Namur, Belgium, in the region of the Ardennes. As of October 2017, the chateau has been completely demolished.

History

The Château was planned and designed in 1866 by the English architect Edward Milner under commission from the Liedekerke-De Beaufort family, who had left their previous home, Vêves Castle, during the French Revolution. Milner died in 1884 before the Château was finished. Construction was completed in 1907 after the clock tower was erected.

Their descendants remained in occupation until World War II. A small portion of the Battle of the Bulge took place on the property, and it was during that time that the Château was occupied by German forces.[citation needed]

In 1950, Château Miranda was renamed "Château de Noisy" when it was taken over by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB) as an orphanage and also a holiday camp for sickly children. It lasted as a children's camp until the late 1970s.

The Château stood empty and abandoned since 1991 because the costs to maintain it were too great, and a search for investors in the property failed. Although the municipality of Celles had offered to take it over, the family refused, and the enormous building lingered in a derelict state, succumbing to decay and vandalism. Parts of the structure were heavily damaged in a fire and many areas of the ceiling were beginning to collapse. Despite this, it became a favorite venue for Urban Exploration.

Demolition of Château Miranda

Demolition work began in 2016, amid concern over the structural stability of the building. The demolition took approximately a year, which began in October 2016 with removal of the roof. By October 2017, the chateau had been completely demolished. The last part to be removed, was the iconic central tower.

Miranda Castle

The Castle of Vêves occupies a rocky platform just outside the village of Celles, in the province of Namur, Belgium. It is classified as Major Heritage of Wallonia. According to tradition, the site has been occupied by castles since the time of Pippin of Herstal (7th century). In the later Middle Ages, the area fell under control of the Beaufort family, which oversaw the construction of a stronghold here in about 1230.

The present castle, in the form of an irregular pentagon and flanked by six round towers of varying size, dates largely from around 1410. Successive restorations modified especially the walls of the inner courtyard, one of which is lined with a distinctive half-timbered gallery of two levels, and another of which was given a red brick facade in the Louis XV style. The northern frontage is crowned with a small cupola containing a clock.

Kasteel van Vêves

Walzin Castle is a castle in Belgium in the province Namur over the river Lesse near Dinant. Construction began in the 13th century, and the 15th-century Renaissance horseshoe tower with four cannon ports still exists, even though the castle was burned down by the French army in 1554. There were several restorations later, the latest by Baron Fréderic Brugman between 1930 and 1932. Victor Hugo made a drawing of it in 1863.



Walzin Castle

Ciergnon Castle, or the Royal Castle of Ciergnon (Château Royal de Ciergnon; Koninklijk kasteel van Ciergnon) is a residence and summer retreat of the Belgian Royal Family situated near the town of Ciergnon in the municipality of Houyet, province of Namur. The castle is a property of the Belgian Royal Trust.

The domain with its woods, river and vast hunting grounds was acquired in 1840 by King Leopold I of Belgium at the request of his spouse Queen Louise-Marie. At first a hunting lodge was erected on a beautiful terrace overlooking a deep forested valley. The present château was erected later by King Leopold II of Belgium. The edifice was designed by his court architect Alphonse Balat. Since then it has always served as a holiday retreat to the Royal Family. In 1960 it was the venue for the press presentation of King Baudouin's fiancé Dona Fabiola de Mora y Aragon.

More recently the children of Philippe, King of the Belgians, Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eléonore were baptised in the chapel of the château.

The Royal Family also owned other castles in the direct vicinity of Ciergnon. Fenffe Castle is still in use as a holiday retreat by the royal family. Ardenne Castle was, according to the wish of King Leopold II, converted into a luxury hotel. It was closed after World War II and destroyed by fire in 1968.

Royal Castle of Ciergnon

HISTORY

Château de Vignée is a landmark amidst the strong-willed landscape of the Ardennes.

Sprouting from a 400-year-old hunting narrative and acting as a field hospital in the Second World War, the 17th-century castle has always been a stronghold in the Famenne region.

HERE AND NOW

Over the years, Château de Vignée has gained deeper insight into the needs of its guests only to arise anew as a lavish boutique estate. The opulent suites are tailored to unwind, restaurant ARDEN caters to any gastronomical urges while the spa site tends to physical and spiritual solace. The tailored event spaces add to the flourishing spirit of the chateau site.

ANCIENT ROOTS

Drawing from its ancient roots, the chateau is raised from regional marbles and the ruins of the previous building. The interior takes cues from the overwhelming force and beauty of the native scenery surrounding the estate. Aware of its ever-evolving setting, Château de Vignée has aligned with the seasons both aesthetically and gastronomically offering a genuine Ardennes experience.



https://www.chateaudevignee.be/about/

Kasteel van Vignée in Villers-sur-Lesse

The castle of Freÿr with its gardens in the style of Le Nôtre is located on the left bank of the Meuse, between Waulsort and Dinant (province of Namur, Belgium). They form one of the most magnificent natural sites in Belgium. It has been classified as one of Wallonia's major heritage sites.

The castle
Dating back to the Middle Ages, Freÿr was a keep given in fief by the Count of Namur to Jean de Rochefort Orjol in 1378. His granddaughter Marie married Jacques de Beaufort in 1410. Their descendants have kept the estate until the present.

Outside
The keep was destroyed in 1554 by the French during the wars against Emperor Charles V. The oldest part of the current castle, the east wing, was built in 1571 and is one of the first examples of the "Renaissance Mosane" style.

During the 17th century the house was enlarged by the addition of three wings, forming a square with the original wing.

Around 1760 the south wing was pulled down and replaced by a wrought iron gate reminiscent of Jean Lamour's masterpiece in Nancy, closing the inner yard to give the castle its current appearance.

The gardens

Designed in the style of André Le Nôtre in 1760 by Canon Guillaume de Beaufort-Spontin and enlarged by his brother Philippe in 1770, the gardens are set on walled terraces on the left bank of the Meuse. They offer views towards the woods to the north and towards the Meuse to the east, and their peace and serenity contrast with the naked rockface on the far bank.

Ponds and fountains babble on the lower level where orange trees spread their delicate perfume. Most of them are 350 years old. The trees came to Freÿr in the first part of the 18th century from Lunéville, the residence of the Duke of Lorraine. They are the oldest trees in cases in Europe (Icomos Conference Orangerien in Europa - Von fürstlichem Vermögen und gärtnerischer Kunst, Bamberg 2005). The wooden cases are still built according to the original design. The oldest orangery of the Low Countries (early 18th century) combines elegance and simplicity.

The upper level is covered by hedge mazes (6 km) that unveil their mysteries one by one: a set of patterns inspired by card game figures, a theme also present in the terra cotta statues made by Cyfflé.

At the very top of the gardens, the Rococo pavilion commands the view on the Meuse and seduces by its delicate stucco decoration, based on the theme of fertility with cornucopia and Tritons.

The right bank of the Meuse is dominated by cliffs (more than 100 m high, 340 million years old), from which one has an exceptional view of the estate.

Castle of Freÿr


Leignon Castle, locally known as Château de Leignon, lies next to the village of the same name, in the province of Namur in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

Before Leignon Castle was built there was an earlier building on this site, dating back to the 17th century, on an old estate belonging to the Stavelot Abbey. Around 1890 the estate with all its buildings were bought by Isidore Jacques Eggermont, a Belgian diplomat from Ghent. He then had everything completely rebuilt by the Belgian architect Auguste Van Assche, giving the castle its present appearance.

In 1953 the castle was bought from the Eggermont family by the National Railway Company of Belgium. Later that century the estate was gradually broken up. The castle is now a private residence again. The stables and the outbuildings are home to a youth organisation organizing horse camps and the lands are part of a separate farm.





https://www.castles.nl/leignon-castle

Kasteel van Leignon

Histoire

Le parc Saint-Roch, bel espace vert de la ville, tire son nom du passé des lieux qu'il occupe.
Il est établi à l'extérieur de la ville historique. On y trouvait jadis, des pâtures et la maladrerie de Ciney qui portait le nom de « Chapelle et Ermitage Saint-Roch ».
Au Moyen-Age, ce site faisait partie d'un vaste espace de près servant de terrains de pâturage aux moutons, chèvres, brebis des bourgeois aisés de la Cité : le Cocriasaurt.
Le nom Sainfoin lui a été donné à partir des 18e et 19e siècles et évoque les nombreuses pâtures qui s'y trouvaient.

Lorsqu'il a fait construire son château, le notaire Boseret a vendu une partie de la propriété afin de financer les travaux de la demeure et comme les Capucins cherchaient un lieu pour construire une église, il leur vendit une partie.
Le parc fut aménage avec des arbres majestueux plantés, un étang en bas de la propriété, deux magnifiques drèves...
En 1961, les héritiers Boseret- de Wouters vendent 12ha du domaine à la commune. La ville devient également propriétaire des terrains et du couvent des Capucins. Les bâtiments du CPAS, le terrain de foot et la Cipale y sont aménagés ainsi qu'un nouveau quartier résidentiel.

Dans les années 60', un camping sera installé dans le parc, à l'initiative de l'échevin Victor Barbeaux. Il a fermé dans les années 90'.

Le parc est classé comme site depuis le 25 septembre 1997.

L'extérieur du Château

Le château est une grosse bâtisse en calcaire, anciennement château Sainfoin. Il a été édifié en 1906 par Jospeh Boseret (1853-1933), notaire du Roi Léopold II.
Il est construit sur l'emplacement d'une ancienne ferme, « la ferme de Sainfoin », qui fut exploitée jusqu'à la fin du 19e siècle. En subsistent les dépendances en U du côté du NE.

Joseph Boseret avait en premier lieu, le secret espoir de réserver le parc au Roi Léopold II. En effet, le Roi cherchait des terrains un peu isolés le long de la ligne de chemin de fer Bruxelles-Luxembourg pour y construire des résidences secondaires. Ce vœu ne se réalisa pas et donc Joseph Boseret fit construire le château pour lui et sa famille. Le notaire voyait grand, car son château fut décorer avec des matériaux de luxe et s'inspirant du Petit Trianon à Paris.
C'est également dans ce château que Lord Montgomery a séjourné 1 ou 2 jours, en décembre 1944, lors de l'offensive Von Rundstedt.
Le château a connu ensuite plusieurs usages avant de devenir le Conservatoire de Musique.
En 1963, le château est loué aux Entreprises Demarche et la famille Mattard y tient un restaurant haut de gamme, ainsi qu'un hôtel à l'étage.
Jusqu'en mars 1978, il est également le lieu de réunion de nombreuses associations cinaciennes.

La Ville de Ciney souhaitait changer l'Académie de Musique, qui avait ses locaux au Caméo (ancien cinéma - Rue Edouard Dinot) et l'installer dans le château.
La ville souhaitait donc mettre fin anticipativement au bail de Monsieur Demarche. Après de nombreux rebondissements et de procès, l'Académie peut enfin s'installer dans ses nouveaux locaux en 1981.

Actuellement, on trouve, d'une part, la crèche communale de Ciney et d'autre part, la Maison des Jeunes.



http://www.ciney.be/chateau-et-parc-saint-roch

Kasteel van Saint-Roch in Ciney

Lavaux-Sainte-Anne Castle, locally known as Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne, lies next to the town with the same name, in the province of Namur in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

The castle dates back to the first half of the 15th century when it was built by the Berlo family. It was built on a swampy plain near the small Wimbe river (an affluent of the river Lesse).

In 1450 the keep was built and some years later the castle was strengthened by Jean II de Berlo. Local history has it that he went on crusade in 1453 to free Constantinople of the Turks, but he took so long getting there that he arrived too late.

In 1464 the castle was besieged by the citizens of Dinant. They could not take the castle.

In 1630 the castle was bought by the baron Jacques-Renard de Rouveroy, an infantry colonel in the service of Emperor Ferndinand III. Because of the evolution of war tactics the castle's defenses were rendered useless. So he turned it into a country mansion. He took down one curtain wall and remodeled the facade of the inner courtyard into Italian baroque. He also covered the castle in red bricks and added the bulbous roofs.

During the French Revolution the castle was abandoned and fell to ruin.

In 1934 the castle was bought by a baroness Lemonnier followed by the "Friends of Lavaux-Sainte-Anne Castle"-foundation who restored the castle to its present glory.

Since 1958 the castle houses a museum dedicated to the hunt. 


https://www.castles.nl/lavauxsa-castle

Kasteel van Lavaux-Sainte-Anne

Click on the small pictures to see them bigger, click on the bigger picture for a maxi version
This castle was dominating the city of Beauraing, until on December 3rd 1889 over ight a huge fire only left the walls and towers, changing it into ruins. This was a tragic happening: the castle had been sold, and it's furniture was to be sold in Cologne. The workers who had to pack the stuff, had taken pertol lamps to have enough light... probably the cause of the fire.

But this was not the first time that the castle was seriously damaged:

On May 22nd, 1436 the castle was the battleground between Jehan II of Herbigny and the bishop Liège.
The major of Givet, a certain De le Colle, destroyed the castle during the French Revolution with his soldiers.


The French architect Mestral restaurated the castle (paid by the duke of d'Osana). At those days, the calste was very attractive. There were greenhouses with plants from all over the world... and even 2 monkeys. Quite some famous people visisted the castle... of which we name the future king of England...


http://www.belgiumview.com/belgiumview/tl3/view0000210.php4?pictoshow=0000210ab