Cchâteau de Villers-Sur-Lesse

Rochefort, Belgium

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Château de Villers-sur-Lesse is a historic castle located in the village of Villers-sur-Lesse, part of Rochefort in the Namur province of Belgium. The castle dates back to the 14th century and was originally part of a small medieval fief.

It changed ownership several times, passing through noble families including the Mérodes and later Gédéon Desandrouin, a wealthy industrialist in the region. The castle suffered a significant fire in 1857 which destroyed one wing that was never rebuilt.

In 1892, King Leopold II acquired the estate, adding it to the nearby royal domain of the Ardennes with the vision of making it a summer residence for the royal family. Today, the château remains part of Belgium's Royal Trust, embodying centuries of Belgian noble and royal history within its grounds and architecture.