Martin’s Château du Lac

Fantasies of medieval glory don’t get much closer to coming true than staying in one of the Belgian castle hotels that are dotted all over the Ardennes and former Duchy of Brabant regions. Whether it’s Christmas at the hearth of a lavish Château in Spa or dining in the palace that neighbors the famous Citadel of Namur, these Belgian hotels are the stuff of luxurious getaways.
Legend has it that the Château d’Hassonville in Marche-en-Famenne was originally designed to serve as a hunting abode for Louis VIX, who loved the diversity of the region, which is squeezed between the Belgian Condroz and the leafy Ardennes. What is certain is the surrounding 55-hectare terrain was designed by a pupil of André Le Nôtre (the Sun King’s favorite gardener and the mind behind the Gardens of Versailles). The Château’s resident chef Sébastien Phys and his team serve French style cuisine and their culinary creations can be paired expertly with wine from the cellars upon request. The sunlit veranda and multiple salons featuring fireplaces make sure there’s always a snug spot to be found.
Château d’Hassonville, Route D’Hassonville 105, 6900 Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium
+32 84 31 10 25
How about a medieval tower as your home for the weekend, week or longer? A holiday’s stay in the renovated La Margalette is enough to make you feel like an actual castle lord in the Ardennes for as long as you like. The four-level tower stands in a 2-hectare domain dotted with three small ponds and a variety of other historic buildings. The old-school fun doesn’t stop there seeing as the terrain is a mere two kilometers away from the ancient Château Logne and nine kilometers from the mysterious Abîme Caves.
Booking only through ardennesresidence.com +32 86 21 00 21