Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne

Rochefort, Belgium

The Castle of Lavaux-Sainte-Anne is located in Wallonia near Rochefort. In 1244 Jacques de Wellin de la Vaux built a simple tower in order to monitor the Bavay-Nassogne Roman road at the request of Andage Abbey (now Saint-Hubert). In 1450, Jean II de Berlo commissioned the building of the current castle, initially with three great towers connected by curtain walls. The fourth tower is built in 1500.

In 1630 the castle was bought by the baron Jacques-Renard de Rouveroy, an infantry colonel in the service of Emperor Ferndinand III. Because of the evolution of war tactics the castle's defenses were rendered useless. So he turned it into a country mansion. He took down one curtain wall and remodeled the facade of the inner courtyard into Italian baroque. He also covered the castle in red bricks and added the bulbous roofs.

In 1796 local revolutionaries destroyed the chateau. The banners are removed from the roofs and the coats of arms are attacked with hammers. In 1933 the estate was donated to the non-profit organisation Les Amis du Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne created by Baroness Lemonnier, who fully finances the restoration of the site. Today, it is a open to the public.

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Founded: 1450
Category: Castles and fortifications in Belgium

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

crt lg (28 days ago)
Nice castle with 3 museums inside. Price of ticket 8 e/person. Outside, in the back of the courtyard, it had a couple of lovely deers.
David Burns (4 months ago)
Fantastic building and a fine selection of historic artifacts.
Denzil Walton (5 months ago)
The Castle of Lavaux-Sainte-Anne features three museums and a nature reserve. The first is the Museum of the Life of the Lords of Lavaux in the 17th century, showing how they lived, what they wore, what they eat and drank, where they slept etc. The second area is in the cellars. Here, the Museum of Rural Life presents everyday objects, customs and rural festivals of the late 19th century. I found these two museums interesting. Each of the rooms has plenty of fascinating antiquities to investigate. They are well displayed and described, and in many of the rooms there is tasteful atmospheric music playing. The third museum, of nature and hunting, is less interesting and focuses too much on hunting and the hunted.
Jan Verheyen (10 months ago)
Very nice castle to spend an hour or two. The weather was unfortunately too bad, otherwise the gardens would have been on our list too.
Joshua Harvey (13 months ago)
Step into a world of spine-tingling enchantment at the annual Halloween celebration hosted by this bewitching castle! With its haunted castle, eerie costumes, and a culinary cauldron of delights, this event promises to be a nightmarish adventure like no other. During the chilling journey, you'll encounter lost souls in torment and malevolent beings that will send shivers down your spine. But here's the real question: do you dare to enter the Dungeon? This eerie, otherworldly experience beckons the bravest souls, yet one must think twice before venturing within. For if you wander too far into the labyrinthine depths, the creatures that dwell within will keep you captive for centuries, perhaps even for eternity. You might become one of them, forever imprisoned within these ancient walls. Consider yourself warned. Now, for the young ones, the question of starting age is a matter of your adorable little monster's sensitivity. Their creatures are experts at adapting their scares to the age of little wizards and other pint-sized demons, ensuring a thrilling yet age-appropriate experience. The great news is that you can go in disguise! Dress up to your heart's content and relish the opportunity to capture memories in this enchanting, haunted setting. Worried about punctuality? Don't be! While they recommend arriving during business hours, there's no need to strictly adhere to your pre-sale ticket time. Flexibility is the name of the game, and they welcome all brave souls whenever you choose to join. Please note that the castle's interior isn't stroller-friendly due to narrow stairs, so consider using a baby carrier if you're bringing your little ones along. They do, however, offer accessibility to individuals with reduced mobility (PMR) in the French gardens, cellars of the castle, craft market, and bar. Unfortunately, the many stairs inside the castle make wheelchair access challenging. For the convenience of their guests, there's a spacious and complimentary car park, ensuring a hassle-free visit. And when it comes to refreshments, their snacks and bar boast tantalizingly democratic prices, ensuring that no one leaves hungry or thirsty. So, if you're ready to embark on a hair-raising adventure and explore the depths of this spine-chilling castle, go to this Halloween celebration. But remember, once you cross the threshold, you may never want to leave—consider yourself warned, and prepare for a night of eerie enchantment!
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