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Royal Castle of Ciergnon
Part of Royal Trust (Belgium)
Wallonia, Belgium
Ciergnon Castle
Coordinates	50° 9′ 58″ N, 5° 6′ 29″ E
Type	Hunting lodge
Site history
Built	1842
Built by	King Leopold I of Belgium
In use	Vacation home of the Belgian royal family

The Royal Castle of Ciergnon (French: Château Royal de Ciergnon; Dutch: Koninklijk Kasteel van Ciergnon) or Ciergnon Castle (French: Château de Ciergnon; Dutch: Kasteel van Ciergnon) is a residence and summer retreat of the Belgian royal family situated near the town of Ciergnon in the municipality of Houyet, Namur Province, Wallonia. The castle is a property of the Belgian Royal Trust.

History

The domain with its woods, river and vast hunting grounds was acquired in 1840 by King Leopold I at the request of his spouse Queen Louise-Marie. At first, a hunting lodge was erected on a beautiful terrace overlooking a deep forested valley. The present château was erected later by King Leopold II. The edifice was designed by his court architect Alphonse Balat.

Since then, the château has always served as a holiday retreat to the Belgian royal family. In 1960, it was the venue for the press presentation of King Baudouin's fiancé Dona Fabiola de Mora y Aragon. More recently, the children of King Philippe—Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eléonore—were baptised in the château's chapel.

The royal family also owned other castles and châteaux in the direct vicinity of Ciergnon. Fenffe Castle is still in use as a holiday retreat by the royal family. The Royal Château of Ardenne was, according to the wish of Leopold II, converted into a luxury hotel. It was closed after World War II and destroyed by fire in 1968.

See also

• List of castles and châteaux in Belgium
• Royal Trust (Belgium)
• Culture of Belgium
• Belgium in the long nineteenth century

References

1. "De Belgische Kamer van volksvertegenwoordigers".

External links

• Media related to Château de Ciergnon at Wikimedia Commons
• Belgium Royal Family

v t e Royal palaces and residences in Belgium
Occupied	Royal Palace of Brussels (Main Residence of the Belgian Court) Palace of Laeken (Private Residence of the King) Belvédère Castle Château royal de Ciergnon Fenffe Castle Château du Stuyvenberg Villa Clémentine
Historical	Palace of the Count of Flanders Chateau des Amerois Château royal d'Ardenne Palace of Coudenberg Villa Leopolda
Abroad	Les Cèdres (private residence) Villa Astrida, Motril Royal Domain of Opgrimbie (Villa Fridhem)

50°09′58″N 5°06′29″E / 50.1662°N 5.1081°E / 50.1662; 5.1081

v t e Castles in Belgium
Abée Castle Acoz Castle Alden Biesen Castle Chateau des Amerois Annevoie Castle Antoing Castle Château d'Anvaing Château royal d'Ardenne Ardooie Castle Kasteel van Arenberg Aspremont-Lynden Castle Attre Castle Beauvoorde Castle Beersel Castle Château de Belœil Belvédère Castle La Berlière Castle Château de Beurthé Château Bilquin de Cartier Binche Palace Blanmont Castle Boelare Castle Château de Bois-Seigneur-Isaac Bolland Castle Bonlez Castle Bonneville Castle Bornem Castle Borrekens Castle Bossenstein Castle Bouchout Castle Château de Bouillon Braine Castle Château des Cailloux Chimay Castle Royal Castle of Ciergnon Cleydael Castle Château de Corroy-le-Château Couwelaar Castle Crèvecœur Castle Crupet Castle Dave Castle Deulin Castle Diepenbeek Castle Donnea Castle Château de Duras Écaussinnes-Lalaing Castle Elewijt Castle Castle of l'Estriverie Fagnolle Castle Falaën Castle La Falize Castle Château de Fallais Falnuée Castle Fanson Castle Farciennes Castle Faulx-les-Tombes Castle Fernelmont Castle Château de Flawinne Florennes Castle Château de Fontaine Fontaine-l'Évêque Castle Fosteau Castle Château de La Fougeraie Franc-Waret Castle Franchimont Castle Castle of Freÿr Gaasbeek Castle Geeraard de Duivelsteen Gors Castle Gravensteen Groot-Bijgaarden Castle Guirsch Castle Ham-sur-Heure Castle Hamal Castle Harzé Castle Hasselbrouck Castle Haultepenne Castle Hauteroche Castle Haversin Castle Havré Castle Heers Castle Hélécine Castle Hex Castle Houtain-le-Val Castle Ingelmunster Castle Jannée Castle Jehay-Bodegnée Castle Jemeppe Castle Kruishoutem Castle Karreveld Castle Kasteel van Laarne Kasteel Lagendal Landwijk Castle Lassus Castle Laval Castle Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne Kasteel van Leeuwergem Leignon castle Limont Castle Loppem Castle Male Castle Château Malou Meylandt Castle Château Miranda Mirwart Castle Château de Modave Montaigle Castle Montquintin Castle Morialmé Castle Nieuwerkerken Castle Nokere Castle Ommerstein Castle Ooidonk Castle Oostkerke Castle Opprebais Castle Ouren Castle Kasteel van Poeke Rameyen Castle Ravenhof Castle (Torhout) Reinhardstein Castle Renesse Castle Reuland Castle Reijvissche Castle Rivieren Castle (Ganshoren) La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle Le Rœulx Castle Château-ferme de Roly Château Rose Château Rouge La Royère Castle Royseux Castle Rullingen Castle Rumbeke Castle Château-ferme de Samart Sars-la-Bruyère Castle Sart-Eustache Castle Château de Seneffe Solre-sur-Sambre Castle Solvay Castle Sombreffe Castle Sorghvliedt Castle Spanjaardenkasteel Spiere Castle Spontin Castle Het Steen Sterckshof Château du Stuyvenberg Tavigny Castle Templeuve Castle Ter Leyen Castle Thoricourt Castle Thuillies Castle Castle of Thy-le-Château Tielen Castle Tillegem Castle Tornaco Castle Trazegnies Castle D'Ursel Castle Château of Val-Duchesse Château de Vêves La Vicomté Castle Vierset Castle Vierves-sur-Viroin Castle Villers-sur-Semois Castle De Viron Castle Vogelsanck Castle Vonêche Castle Castle of Waha Walberg Castle Waleffe Castle Walzin Castle Castle of Warfusée Waroux Castle Wégimont Castle Castle of Westerlo Westmalle Castle Kasteel van Wijnendale Wissekerke Castle Château de Wodémont Zeebroeck Castle Zétrud-Lumay Castle

• 1842 establishments in Belgium
• Houses completed in 1842
• Royal residences in Belgium
• Castles in Belgium
• Castles in Namur (province)
• Leopold I of Belgium