These magnificent castle gardens are perfect for a day trip near Brussels

If you had to visit just one castle garden in Wallonia, it would undoubtedly be the one at Freÿr. Nestled in a bend of the Meuse River, facing the impressive Freÿr Rocks, this 18th-century estate offers a setting straight out of a postcard. Inspired by the art of French formal gardens, the geometric flowerbeds, ponds, fountains, and long vistas invite you to take a leisurely stroll. But the true hallmark of the site remains its exceptional collectionof three-hundred-year-old orange trees. It is considered the oldest such collection in Europe grown in containers! Its 6 kilometers of arbors form a veritable green maze. From the vantage point of the Rococo pavilion, the view of the gardens and the Meuse Valley is simply spectacular.

At first glance, Hex Castle looks like something straight out of an English novel. Nestled in the heart of Hesbaye, this private estate opens its gardens to the public at certain times of the year. It boasts one of Belgium’s most refined landscaped gardens. Behind the castle gates lie an elegant English-style garden, a historic vegetable garden, romantic paths, an orchard, and a remarkable collection of heirloom and botanical roses, some varieties of which have been cultivated here for several centuries. One of the best times to explore the grounds is undoubtedly during the Hex Garden Festival, held annually in June and September. During the festival, the estate hosts dozens of nursery owners and specialized growers, as well as lectures and workshops. Don’t miss it this fall!

Nicknamed the “Belgian Versailles, ” Beloeil Castle impresses as much with its elegant mansion as with its sumptuous French-style gardens. Designed in the 17th century and spanning 25 hectares, they offer a setting of remarkable symmetry. The landscape is punctuated by long avenues, groves, fountains, and a spectacular reflecting pool nearly 460 meters long that extends the castle’s perspective. Still home to the prestigious princely family of Ligne, the estate has retained all its former refinement. It invites visitors to take a stroll where landscape art interacts with more than eight centuries of history. Throughout the year, the château also hosts several events, including the famous Amaryllis Exhibition, which transforms the historic salons into a veritable floral garden every spring.

The Alden Biesen estate is more than just its imposing castle surrounded by a moat. Formerly the headquarters of the Teutonic Order, it also features a magnificent park that combines a French garden, with its perfectly geometric lines, and an English-style park with winding paths and a romantic atmosphere. Throughout the year, the estate also hosts numerous cultural events, concerts, exhibitions, and festivals that breathe even more life into this place steeped in nearly 800 years of history.

If there’s one estate that truly lives up to its reputation, it’s the Annevoie Gardens. Created beginning in 1758, they rank among Belgium’s most beautiful historic gardens and are distinguished by a unique feat: all their water features operate solely by the force of gravity, without a single pump or piece of machinery. Inspired by French, Italian, and English styles, the gardens unfold along a path punctuated by waterfalls, fountains, ponds, canals, and elegant vistas that reveal themselves as you stroll through them. Designated a historic monument, the estate also holds the “Remarkable Garden” designation, a distinction recognizing its exceptional landscape beauty. Each year, several events bring the grounds to life, notably the highly anticipated Venice Costume Weekend, during which the paths fill with sumptuous costumes inspired by the famous Venetian Carnival, offering a spectacle that is as magical as it is photogenic.