The Château d’Orval was built on the old foundations of an earlier castle near the largest monastery in the country, the Orval Abbey. The castle was originally the home of the abbot.
The small castle is reflected in the pond where swans, ducks, and moorhens swim. It served as a reservoir that provided hydraulic power to the forge machinery located below. Despite its medieval appearance, the castle is relatively recent, having been built in the 1960s. It is privately owned and is not open to the public.
The current castle is very recent. It was built in 1960 at the request of the owners, the Otreppe de Bouvette family, based on plans by architect Emile Godin. The previous castle was severely damaged in both world wars and fell into disrepair.