Seraing-le-Château

Belgium, Belgium

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Seraing-le-Château is a small village and former commune in Wallonia, Belgium, now a section of the town of Verlaine in the Liège province, whose name and identity come from the nearby medieval castle that once stood there.

The village itself was first mentioned in 911 and again in 956, and its name “Seraing‑le‑Château” was chosen to distinguish it from the nearby town of Seraing closer to Liège, while the castle around which it developed was originally a fortified manor that was transformed into a proper stronghold around 1300 and later became a key residence of the powerful La Marck family, famous in the history of the Prince‑Bishopric of Liège and the Ardennes.

The castle was severely damaged by fires in 1869 and again in 2003, after which it fell into ruin and was abandoned for many decades, described in older guides as a roofless, windowless ruin only visible from outside the grounds; following eight years of restoration, however, it was reopened in 2023 and now functions as a venue with guest rooms and an event hall, while the surrounding area offers walking and cycling circuits such as the around‑the‑castle route starting from nearby Chapon‑Seraing.