モルランヴェルの洞窟・トップ12

Beautiful castle as well as park!

Very beautiful park and woods

Superb castle and park

The Castle of Seneffe was built in the period 1763-1768 in classicist style according to the plans of architect Laurent Benoit Dewez, as a country residence for the wealthy entrepreneur Julien de Pestre, Count of Seneffe. His son Joseph Depestre inherited the castle in 1774. He had the garden laid out in consultation with his mother Isabelle Cogels. There were statues by Augustin Pajou, a theater by Charles De Wailly and an orangery by Louis Montoyer. The castle and the art collection were sold as national property in 1798, but Joseph's brother Jean-Baptiste managed to keep it in the family through a stooge. His son Honoré de Pestre was able to move in in 1823 and sold it in 1837 out of financial distress. During World War II, the castle served as the local headquarters and summer residence of General Von Falkenhausen, the military governor of Nazi-occupied Belgium. The castle was neglected afterwards. After changing hands many times, it came into the hands of the Ministry of the French Community of Belgium, which decided to house a museum of silversmithing. The castle underwent a lengthy restoration, which was completed in 1995. In 2008, the extensive gardens surrounding the castle were recreated, partly according to the original plans.

The castle was built in the 13th century by order of Nicholas III van Fontaines, bishop of Cambrai. After his death it was inherited by his sister, the wife of Baudouin de Hennin-Liétard. Later it passed into the hands of famous families such as the Hamals, Herzelles and Rodoans. In the 17th and 18th centuries it was completely restored and given a more refined interior. A new renovation by the Bivort de la Saudée family followed in the 19th century.[1] They called on the architect Auguste Cador for this. After the Second World War, the municipality bought the building (1946). It served as a town hall. (Wikipedia)

This is not entirely correct and the source is not credible. Thomas Bonehill died in 1858 and therefore cannot have started the construction of the castle in 1887. It was his son Emile who initiated it (for his daughter Elisa, information to be validated).

The gardens of the estate are accessible free of charge. A few benches will allow you to enjoy the beauty and the serenity of the place. The castle houses the goldsmith's museum.https: //chateaudeseneffe.be/fr

"In Hourpes, the second residence linked to the family of Thomas Bonehill, an English engineer and founder of the Forges de la Providence in Marchienne-au-Pont (a company specializing in steel production), still exists. Thomas Bonehill, during a trip to Bohemia, was amazed at the sight of a castle; he had a replica built between 1887 and 1888 for the daughter of Emile Bonehill-Servais, with a concierge's lodge on the left and a stable on the right. The Bonehills operated two factories in Hourpes, and had the mining village built there, which is still there today. They went bankrupt in 1926, and the equipment was dismantled and transferred to Ireland ten years later." https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm11K38_Chteau_de_Hourpes_Thuin_Belgique