Belgian Castles You Can Actually Stay In

Set amid the glowing fields of the Belgian Condroz since 1884, Château de la Poste has a royal past. It was Princess Clémentine, daughter to King Léopold II, who inhabited the stately digs for more than thirty years in the first half of the 20th century before the castle became a holiday centre for postal clerks. In 2009, it was turned into a luxury hotel, and, while its blue-blooded residents may have long departed, they left a warm hearth and beautifully landscaped 42ha (104 acres) park that makes for colourful walks in the fall. For those who want to spend a night feeling at one with nature, there are even a treehouse and a ‘Loft Cube’ in the adjacent forest.

Legend has it that the Château d’Hassonville in Marche-en-Famenne was originally designed to serve as a hunting abode for Louis XIV, who loved the diversity of the region, which is squeezed between the Belgian Condroz and the leafy Ardennes. What is certain is that the surrounding 55ha (136 acres) terrain was designed by a pupil of André Le Nôtre (the Sun King’s favourite 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.

Spa, one of the most picturesque and unspoilt areas in Belgium, also happens to be home to the Manoir de Lébioles, one of the most resplendent castle hotels in the country. A meticulously kept garden gives way to ‘the small Versailles of the Ardennes’, with warm decor and a lively atmosphere. Among the many activities the castle organises, such as a golf tournament and house concerts, the Christmas package, with hot chestnuts and homemade pastries by the fireplace, sounds most alluring.