Château de Beloeil

Sometimes the best treasures are not necessarily in the most obvious places. This is certainly the case in Belgium, where tucked away in the Hainaut region, to the south of Brussels, lies one of Europe’s most spectacular castles. Known as ‘the Versailles of the North’, the magnificent Château de Beloeil is surrounded by a moat amidst more than 60 acres of parkland complete with lakes and ornamental gardens created by a student of André Le Nôtre – designer of Louis XIV’s gardens at Versailles. Originally built as a Medieval fortress, the Château has been the residence of the Belgian Princes de Ligne since the 14th century and although it is open to the public, it is still home to the current, 14th Prince – Michel.