Beloeil Castle
The Moated Seat Of The Princes De Ligne, Often Called The Belgian Versailles, With Furnished State Rooms And A Vast Formal Park · Beloeil, Hainaut Province
Beloeil Castle (Chateau de Beloeil) is the seat of the Princes de Ligne, one of Belgium's oldest noble families, in the village of Beloeil in Hainaut, in French-speaking Wallonia between Mons and Tournai. The family has held Beloeil for centuries and is still said to live in part of it. The main building burned in a fire in 1900 and was rebuilt soon after in the old style, while older wings survived. Inside are furnished state rooms with portraits, tapestries, furniture and a large library, and many memories of Prince Charles-Joseph de Ligne, the witty 18th-century soldier, diplomat and writer who knew the courts of Vienna, Versailles and St Petersburg. Outside lies a vast French formal park laid out around a long, large lake, which is why Beloeil is often called the Belgian Versailles. The castle opens only for part of the year, often afternoons. The honest caveat: the name oversells it; this is a family house with fine rooms and a grand park, not Versailles, and it suits garden lovers and history readers more than anyone expecting spectacle.
Rue du Chateau, Beloeil, between Mons and Tournai, Beloeil, Hainaut Province, Belgium
Beloeil is SEASONAL. The castle and park usually open from about April to September or October, often in the afternoons, with the park sometimes opening earlier than the rooms, and some weekdays closed outside the peak months - check the current calendar before going, as dates change year to year. Everything is closed in winter except for special events. The Christmas market and summer events such as the Nuit du Feu have been held on set dates with separate tickets (confirm). Getting there: Beloeil is about an hour from Brussels by car, off the E42 between Mons and Tournai, with parking at the castle. By train, go to Ath or Mons and take a TEC bus or taxi; buses are infrequent, especially at weekends - check the timetable, as no local line number is given here. A small local station may serve the area - confirm. Individuals buy tickets on the day; groups and guided tours should be booked in advance.