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 (2 years ago)
Very good, nice library

Martine Depré (2 years 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 (3 years ago)
Nullement entretenu par les autorités de Charleroi

Florent Recloux (3 years ago)
Chateau magnifique !?

Alberto Vella (4 years ago)
I am a garden park maintenance agent

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