Ruins of the Castle of Mary of Hungary

The Château de Marie de Hongrie, also known as the Palace of Binche, is a former royal residence. The medieval castle and subsequent Renaissance palace served as a residence for the counts of Hainaut, the dukes of Burgundy and the Habsburg rulers of the Netherlands. The palace was built between 1546 and 1549 by order of Queen Maria of Hungary, governor of the Netherlands. It was one of the first Renaissance palaces in the Low Countries, intended to rival the French Palace of Fontainebleau. It was destroyed in 1554 by soldiers of King Henry II of France. Today, only some medieval walls and foundations of the castle and palace remain.

Charles V's sister, Mary of Hungary, regent of the Spanish Netherlands, decided to build a majestic palace in Binche on the ruins of the former 12th-century castle. The architect Jacques Dubroeucq started the works in 1545 and completed them in 1549, just before the arrival of Charles V for the presentation of his son, the future Emperor Philip II. Unfortunately, the palace was burned down by the king's troops Henry II of France. The building was restored immediately afterwards, but maintenance was too expensive and it was demolished in 1704.The entire park is surrounded by the city walls and the walk is definitely worth it.