Château Bilquin de Cartier, Charleroi, Belgium

Origins of the Château Bilquin de Cartier can be traced back to the around 1635, when the Honoré family built a castle on the Sambre river bank. The place had formerly been occupied by a seigneurial manor which was destroyed on 21 July 1554.

In 1667, the unfinished Spanish fortress of Charleroy was captured by Louis XIV's troops during the War of Devolution. As the castle in Marchienne was located in neutral territory (under authority of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège), it was used as a hospital for both French and Spanish soldiers.

In 1695, the castle was bought by Guillaume de Bilquin, a wealthy forge owner, who completes and enhances it. Later the castle became the property of the Cartier de Marchienne family. It was severely damaged by a fire in 1932, and bought over by the municipality of Marchienne-au-Pont in 1938, ending more than two centuries of ownership by the Cartier family.

The castle today hosts a public library on the ground floor (Bibliothèque Marguerite Yourcenar), and administrative services of the Walloon region on the first floor.

Castles and fortifications in Belgium

User Reviews

Jean Struyven (15 months ago)
Very good, nice library

Martine Depré (19 months ago)
I like this castle, it has a very beautiful architecture inside. A very beautiful "Marguerite Yoursenar" bookcase. Unfortunately, he is regularly the victim of disrespectful people, which makes the history of Marchienne-au-Pont. For several years I organized with the Committee of the time the Pardon de Marchienne until 2021 included closing the navigation season for the yachtsmen, gathering, the yachtsmen, the boatmen, the navy and the water sports. We wanted to make this event that was happening around the castle, known to the public to highlight this place, the castle of Cartier and its history. ?

Alain Arys (2 years ago)
Nullement entretenu par les autorités de Charleroi

Florent Recloux (2 years ago)
Chateau magnifique !?

Alberto Vella (3 years ago)
I am a garden park maintenance agent

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Prince Roy

Historic Site of the week

Stobi

Stobi was an ancient town of Paeonia located near Gradsko. It is considered by many to be the most famous archaeological site in North Macedonia. Stobi was built where the Erigon (Crna River) joins the Axios (Vardar), making it strategically important as a center for both trade and warfare.

Stobi developed from a Paeonian settlement established in the Archaic period. It is believed that in 217 BCE, Philip V annexed Paionia during his campaign against the Dardani who had entered Bylazora, the largest Paeonian town.

The city was first mentioned in writing by the historian Livy, in connection with a victory of Philip V of Macedon over the Dardani in 197 BC. In 168 BC, the Romans defeated Perseus and Macedonia was divided into four nominally independent republics. In 148 BC, the four areas of Macedonia were brought together in a unified Roman province. In the reign of Augustus the city grew in size and population.

Château Bilquin de Cartier

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historical Gems of Costa Verde

Historic Site of the week

Stobi