Just a few kilometers south of Brussels lies a magnificent fortress dating back to the 14th century. The Château de Beersel, located in the commune of the same name, impresses with its magnificent moat and chestnut-colored towers.
A defensive fortress
Château de Beersel was built in the early 14th century. To protect the borders of the Duchy of Brabant against the County of Hainaut, Officer Godefroid de Hellebeke decided to build a defensive fortress on land located in the commune of Beersel, some ten kilometers south of Brussels.
Unusually for the time, the castle was built in brick! It is surrounded by a magnificent moat, reflecting the color of its facades and the gray of its roofs. The foundations, wall corners, window frames and loopholes are made of Lédien sandstone and stone from Écaussines, a commune in Belgium’s Hainaut region.
Quoted by… Victor Hugo!
Château de Beersel was first home to the Wittem family, then to the Arenberg family. It was even leased to a cotton manufacturer in the 19th century. The château was rather neglected during this period, and even Victor Hugo wrote of it in his stories: “There it lies in the valley, the lonely manor. The slightest noise has fallen silent beneath its dreary arches. And every hour of the day sees a stone fall from its dark battlements”.
Restored in the 20th century, Château de Beersel enjoyed great success in the 1940s. Indeed, plays were even staged within its walls. Today, along with the castles of Bouillon, Corroy, Ghent, Horst, Lavaux and Vêves, it is one of the most beautiful medieval castles in Belgium.