Beloeil: a French castle with a magnificent Baroque garden

Beloeil came into the possession of the Ligne family in 1394 and at the beginning of the 15th century the local fortified castle was chosen as their principal residence.

In the 17th and 18th centuries the castle was transformed into a luxurious country house following the French example. At that time a typical French style garden park was created. The “bosquets”, or garden chambers enclosed by high hedges, were preserved in spite of changing fashions in the late 18th century (when English landscape gardens were preferred).

Beloeil is also the ancestral home of Prince Charles Joseph de Ligne (b.Brussels 1735 – d.Vienna 1814), a real bon vivant who befriended Goethe, Rousseau, Voltaire and even Casanova. The interior has fine furniture and a family art collection.

Especially interesting is the library with 20,000 rare volumes! There will be English- and French-speaking guides.

We will take lunch in a restaurant in the grounds of Beloeil, after which we drive to the Castel d’Irchonwelz dating from the 12th century, to visit the brewery in these historic premises – and of course to taste the famous Gouyasse. The visit ends about 4.30 pm.

Coming from Brussels follow E19 and E429 direction Ath, take exit 30 and continue onto N56, direction Ath; and pass 6 roundabouts (after 4th roundabout Beloeil is signposted).
After 6th roundabout take the N527 (traffic lights) and pass through Irchonwelz.
After about 5km, go left after the church of St. Anne and continue for about 4km to the village of Beloeil.
(Parking possibilities about 50 to 100m before the castle)
For Irchonwelz drive back the same way and after about 9 km. take left, rue du Castel 19. Brasserie des Légendes or des Géants is signposted.