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Castles in Brussels
Brussels has a fantastic reputation when it comes to wonderful castles. The castle of Beloeil is one of the most outstanding castles located on the edge of the city. The castle has been owned and visited frequently by the Princes de Ligne since the 14th Century and subsequently it is fully furnished with rich luxurious pieces and houses a rich collection of art objects from the 15th to the 19th Century. The castle is most famous for its library, with around 20,000 books and its 25 acre French-style garden, a pleasing combination of water and greenery. Another marvellous castle is the Castle Bouillon. This castle-fortress is the oldest and most fascinating remains of feudalism in Belgium and it dates back to the 8th Century. It was built on three stony outcrops and is characterised by a maze of corridors and huge vaulted halls. The castle was made famous by its association with Godefroid, the leader of the first Crusade in 1096.
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Royal Palace (Palais Royal)
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Address: Place des Palais
Phone: +32 02 551 20 20
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The Royal Palace of Brussels, often dubbed the Royal Palace of Belgium is an official royal residence located in the centre of the Belgian capital. Whilst it was once the home of kings, it is rarely used by the present Belgian Royal Family who reside in the Royal Castle of Laeken on the outskirts of Brussels instead. The Royal Palace is located in front of the beautiful Brussels Park and a long square known as the Place des Palais or Paleizenplein separates the palace from the park grounds. The Palace of the Nation, home to the Belgian Federal Parliament lies opposite the palace representing the two key symbols of Belgium's system of government; a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
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Chateau Royal de Laeken
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Address: Avenue Jules Van Praet 44
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Chateau Royal de Laeken has been the main residence of the Belgian royal family since 1831, when King Leopold II acceded to the throne. It lies just outside of the centre of Brussels in a region known as Laeken and is sometimes confused with the family’s official residence, the Royal Palace. Chateau de Laeken lies in a beautiful park alongside some of Brussels’ notable landmarks including the Atomium and the Tour Japonaise. It was constructed as a summer retreat for Dutch and Austrian nobility between 1782 and 1784 and was designed by the renowned French architect Charles de Wailly with direction of another leading architect, Louis Montoyer.
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Chateau Charle-Albert
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Address: Watermael-Boitsfort
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Chateau Charle-Albert, otherwise known as Maison Flamande, was a building renowned for its beauty after its completion in the late 19th Century. It was constructed and designed by architect Charles Albert in 1885, but was destroyed during World War II in 1942. Today, you can still visit the site of the ruins which is well worth the trip. Tour guides provide each visitor with a hard hat and you are unable to enter the building otherwise. Sadly the gabled castle, with its terrace and unusual shaped turret, lies in ruins and the remains of awnings have been left hanging over bare window frames. The impressive gardens, which are full of spectacular wildlife offer several excellent walking routes. Chateau Charle-Albert was finally classified as a landmark in 1988 after an arduous 10-year campaign.
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Chateau de Ganshoren
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Address: Ganshoren
Phone: +32 02 425 14 28
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Chateau de Ganshoren is situated in Brussels along the edge of the River d’Aaschot. The building was constructed in 1886 and underwent restoration in 1983. The castle has 1600 square metres of land, of which 454 square metres are taken up by the house alone. The castle has 10 bedrooms, which are all open to the public. The walls are highly decorated in the Baroque style, with large paintings and deep, dark colours. Today the building is often used for wedding ceremonies as the sights around Chateau de Ganshoren make for a beautiful backdrop. The extensive gardens are enjoyed by the public with people taking advantage of the excellent fishing, picnic facilities and wide open spaces.
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Chateau du Coudenberg
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Address: Place des Palais 7
Phone: +32 02 545 08 00
e-mail: info@coudenberg.com
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Website: http://www.coudenberg.com
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Chateau du Coudenberg is a palace in the heart of Brussels named after the hill on which it sits – the Coudenberg. The Castle and then the Palace of Coudenberg were the seats for the government of counts, archdukes, emperors, kings and governors from the 11th Century until its devastation in 1731. Built in 1100 by the counts of Leuven and Brussels the castle's location on the hill allowed them to dominate the surrounding area.
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Chateau Stuyvenberg
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This castle is located to the north of Brussels in the district of Laeken, and not far from the Castle of Laeken. Chateau Stuyvenberg is at the disposal of the Belgian royal family, and is used as a summer retreat or as a residence for foreign dignitaries on visits to the royal family. The large castle has 24 rooms and 145 windows. The picturesque grounds, on which the castle lies are fabulous and give you some of the best views in the city.
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Maison Waucquez
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Address: Rue de Sable
Phone: +32 02 219 19 80
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Maison Waucquez is a building which deserves a visit. The house was designed in 1906 in the style of a department store style by renowned architect Victor Horta. Today the quirky building is used to house one of Brussels’ most unusual museums, being devoted to the art of the cartoon and the comic strip. On show there is a constantly changing display of 200 original drawings by Belgian and French comic artists. In addition, the museum documents the rise in popularity of Belgian and French comic strips via draft sketches. It has also creatively reconstructed room settings of popular cartoonists. The museum is a fantastic experience for all the family, and tours are given as well as opportunities to improve your own drawing alongside some of the best cartoon artists in the world.
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Palais d'Egmont
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Address: Place du Petit Sablon 6
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The Egmont Palace is a large mansion in the region of Petit Sablon in Brussels. Today the mansion is one of the best known buildings in Brussels and is currently used by the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was constructed between 1548 and 1560 for Francoise of Luxemburg and her son, Lamoral Count of Egmont. The first architectural style chosen for the castle was a Flemish Gothic style, which later was changed to a Renaissance design. Throughout the course of the 18th Century, additions were made to the castle in a Classical style accredited to the early architect of Neo-Classicism, Giovanni Niccolo Servandoni.
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