Aerial view of Chateau Beloeil, sometimes referred to as the Belgian Versailles. Belœil became a possession of the Ligne family in 1394, and since the beginning of the 15th Century, has been the principal residence of the family. The old castle wass a fortified rectangular building with a moat surrounding it with four round towers at each corner.
The fortified castle was adapted into a luxurious country house (château), following the French example. The interiors were appointed with fine furniture and the art collection of the family.
During the New Year's celebrations of 1900, disaster struck the château when it burned down completely. Most of the furnishings, including the library of 20,000 rare volumes and the art collection, were saved. The château was rebuilt in the following years by the French architect Ernest Sanson, while the interiors were redecorated using pieces from the Ligne collections.
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- ©2024 George Steinmetz
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- www.georgesteinmetz.com
- Contained in galleries
